100 



D. 13-1] ; A. 6-10; V. 1-5; P. 15; C. 16. 



Color, when dead, dark grayish brown on the upper parts, be- 

 coming lighter beneath, with large, irregular, dark blotches on the 

 sides, extending both above and below the lateral line. The fins 

 resemble in color the part of the body on which they are situated ; 

 the living fish I have not had an opportunity of seeing. 



The only Centrarclius with which this need be compared is the 

 ceneus, Le S. The resemblance here is indeed close, and 9nacu- 

 losus may without doubt be considered the representative in our 

 Pacific region of ceneus in the Eastern. The Californian fish 

 may be distinguished by the more arched dorsal outline, (that of 

 the forehead being, on the contrary, concave,) by the greater 

 height of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin, as compared with 

 the soft rays of the same fin, by the difference in position of the 

 origin of the anal fin, by the form of the opercular angle, and by 

 the colors. 



In one or two points this species fails to comply with the defi- 

 nitions of the genus Centrarclius, as hitherto given. And we 

 may here remark that our researches have already proceeded 

 far enough to show that a complete investigation of Californian 

 ichthyology will probably result in numerous modifications of 

 established genera, extending perhaps the limits of some, while 

 those of others will be narrowed. 



MoRRHUA Californica, Ayrcs. 



The Tomcod, as this species is called by our fishermen, is 

 without doubt closely allied to Morrhua pruinosa, Mitch., the 

 Tomcod and Frostfish of our Atlantic coasts, and may be deemed 

 its representative here. It differs from it, however, in form, in 

 the relative proportions of the head, in the position and size of 

 the fins, &c. A description, touching the points in which it is 

 distinguished from pruinosa is therefore all that is needed. 



The specimen employed is seven inches in length ; about their 

 average size. 



The length of the head is one fourth of the total length ; in 

 pruinosa it is only about one sixth. 



The protrusion of the abdomen is much less, as compared with 



