THE COD FAMILY AND THE SAND-EELS 



245 



uncommon fishes. The present chapter takes account of the 

 following : — 



Our sand-eels, which have strong affinities with the cod 

 family, are two in number, a third having been added on 

 doubtful grounds : — 



Gadidae 



The Cod-fish {Gadus morrhua) is a sufficiently familiar 

 fish to render lengthy description comparatively unnecessary. 

 It is an inhabitant of cold seas, absent from the iVIediterranean 

 and other waters of Southern Europe, and finding its highest 

 development in Arctic seas. 



What was said above with reference to the rapid fading of 

 the colours in members of the present family after death has, 

 perhaps, less application to the cod than to most, but even it 



