364 GADID.E. 



Motella argentata, Reinh. Dan^k. Vidensk. Selsk. AfJmndl. vii. 1838, 

 p. 128. 



D. 58 (ca). A. 44 (ca). V. 3. Ciec. pyl. 8. 



Barbels three, two on the upper and one on the lower jaw. The 

 length of the head is rather more than the depth of the body, and 

 two-ninths of the total length (Avithout caudal). The length of the 

 ventral is two-thirds of that of the head. The width of the inter- 

 orbital space equals the diameter of the eye. Sides and belly silvery. 



Atlantic to the coasts of Greenland. 



a. Three inches long (vertical fins dried). Greenland. 

 h-e. Half-grown and young. Atlantic. Presented by J. B. Godfrey, 

 Esq. 



18. MOTELLA. 

 Gadus, sp., Artedi. 

 Motella, Cuv. Regne Anim. 

 Onos, Risso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 214. 

 Motella et Molvella, Kmq), Wiegm. Arch. 1858, p. 90. 



Body elongate, covered with minute scales. Head not compressed. 

 A separate caudal. Two dorsal fins, the anterior of which is com- 

 posed of smaU fringes, more or less concealed in a longitudinal 

 groove ; the first fringe prolonged. One anal fin. Ventrals composed 

 of five to seven rays. Teeth in the jaws and on the vomer in a band. 



Coasts of Europe, Iceland, and Greenland. 



The skull of Motella does not differ essentially in its structure from 

 that of the true Gadi, the single bones being rather more solid. The 

 abdominal portion of the vertebral column is much shorter than the 

 caudal, — 



M. musiela having 15 abdominal and 32 caudal vertebrae, 

 M. tricirrata having 16 abdominal and 33 caudal vertebrae, 

 M. maculata having 15 abdominal and 33 caudal vertebrae. 

 The neural spines of the anterior vertebrae are strong and much 

 depressed ; the intemeurals of the fii'st dorsal fin rudimentary and 

 extremely numerous. The parapophyses commence to become pro- 

 minent and dilated from the sixth vertebra ; those of the posterior 

 abdominal vertebrae are of moderate width and length, bearing feeble 

 ribs. The anterior vertebrae have rather short, straight, stj^Uform ribs, 

 each with an epipleural attached to it. The bones belonging to the anal 

 fin do not extend forwards beyond the extent of the caudal portion. 



1. Motella mustela. 



Five-beai'ded Rockling. 



Mustek vulgaris, WiUughby, p. 121 (descr. part.) ; Ray, p. 67. 



Gadus, sp., Artedi, Synon. p. 37. no. 11 j Ge)iera, p. 22. no. 2 ; Gronov, 



Zoophyl. no. 314. 

 Gadus niustela, L. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 440: Donov. Brit. Fishes, i. pi. 14; 



Tnrt. Brit. Faun. p. 92 ; Flem. Brit. Ati. p. 193 ; Holb. Bohml. Fisk. 



ii. p. 52. c. fig. ; Faber, Fische Isl. p. 81. 



