7f)4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 
of leugtli; ventral fins slioi t. Head G; depth 10. Gulf Stream, off the 
coast of Florida. ( Gill.) 
{ Leptophklium profundorum Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1803, 211.) 
Family CXX.— GADIDiE.* 
( The Cod-fishes. ) 
Body elongate, more or le.ss compressed behind; tail usually isocer- 
cal (diphycercal in BinemaUchthys)-, scales cycloid, small, sometimes 
wanting. Gill-openings very wide; gill-membranes separated or some- 
what united, commonl 3 " free from the isthmus; no spines, the fin-rays 
all articulated. Dorsal fin extending almost the length of the back, 
forming one, two, or three fins; anal fin long, single or divided; caudal 
fin distinct, or continent with the dorsal and anal; ventral fins jugular, 
but attached to the pubic bone, each of one to eight branched rays. 
Gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. No pseudobranchim. Edge of ]>re- 
opercle usually covered by skin of head. loric cmca usually numer- 
ous, but sometimes few or none. Air-bladder generally well developed. 
Genera 35, species about 90; an important family, many of its members 
being highly valued as food. They inhabit chiefly the northern seas; 
■one genus {Lota) being confined to the fresh waters. Two genera {Sty- 
yicola, Lucifuya) are blind and inhabit the cave streams of Cuba. 
(Gadidce Giiiitlier, iv', 326-369; Ophidiidos, group Brotulina, iv, 371-376.) 
a. Body scaly. 
h. Vertical fius united or approximated; pyloric cceca two; no barbel. {BrotuVmce.) 
c. Vertical bus united Bythites, 434. 
cc. Vertical fins separate ; tail diphycercal Dinematichtiiys, 435. 
hh. Vertical fins ■well separated; pyloric cceca mostly numerous; tail isocercal. 
d. Frontal bone single, normal. {Gadino’.) 
e. Anterior dorsal composed of a band of fringes preceded by a slender ray ; 
barbels 3 to 5. 
/. Ventral rays 3 to 5; anal fin entire Onos, 436. 
ee. Anterior dorsal composed of distinct rays. 
g. Chin with a barbel. 
h. Dorsal fins two ; anal fin one. 
i. Ventral fins narrow, filamentous, each composed of two or three 
slender rays PiiYCis, 437. 
a. Ventrals broader, each of about six rays. 
j. Tail attenuate; anal tin notched ; mouth inferior ; deep-sea fishes. 
HALOnOIlPHYKUS, 438. 
jj. Tail normal; anal fin entire ; month terminal. 
k. Vomer toothless; teeth villiform PiiYSicULUS, 439. 
kk. Vomer with teeth. 
J. Vomer and mandible with canines Moeva, 440. 
11. Vomer and mandible without canines. : Lota, 441. 
* Including- family 119, Brotulidw, in the key to the families, page 79. 
