15. MOLVA. 361 



15. MOLVA. 



Lota, sp., Citv. Regne Anim. 



Molva, Nihs. Skand. Faun. iv. p. 573. 



Uody elongate, covered with very small scales. A separate caudal; 

 two dorsal fins and one anal ; ventrals narrow, composed of six rays. 

 Teeth in the jaws and on the vomer in a band ; mandible and vomer 

 with several large teeth ; none on the palatines. The first dorsal 

 with ten to sixteen well-developed rays. Chin with a barbel. 



Marine fishes of the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. 



1. Molva Yulgaris. 



The Ling. 



Clarias marina, Bellon. De Aquat. p. 131. 



AseUus longus, Schmiev. p. 18 ; Willughby, p. 175. tab. L. 2. no. 2; Ray, 



p. 56. 

 Gadus, sp., Artedi, Synon. p. 36. no. 9 ; Genera, p. 22. no. 9. 

 Lange, UStrdni, Sondm. i. p. 292. 

 Gadus molva, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 439 ; Fabr. Faun. Grccnl. p. 148 ; Bl. 



Fische JDeutschl. ii. p.l74. taf.69; Lacep. ii. p. 432; Turt. Brit. Faun. 



p. 91 ; Bonov. pi. 102. 

 Ling, Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. p. 173, and ed. 1812, iii. p. 262. 

 Lingue, Duham. Peches, ii. sect. 1. cap. 8. p. 145. pi. 25. fig. 1. 

 Enchelyopus molva, Bl. Schn. p. 51. 

 ? Gadus molva, Faber, Fische Isl. p. 86. 

 Gadus molva et raptor, Nilss. Prodr. pp. 45, 46. 

 Lota molva, Jen. Man. p.448 ; Yarr. Brit.Fish. 2nd edit. ii. p. 264, and 



3rd edit. i. p. 569 ; Parn. Wern. Mem. vii. p. 352, or Fish, Frith of 



Forth, p. 192 ; ITiomjJS. Nat. Hist. Irel. iv. p. 185. 

 Molva vulgaris, Flem. Brit. An. p. 192 ; Nilss. Skand. Faun. iv. p. 573. 



D. 13-16 I 64-70. A. 58-66. V. 6. Vert. 27/37. 



The upper jaw is the longest. Strong teeth in the mandible and 

 on the vomer. Barbel longer than the eye ; a short barbel on each 

 side at the nostril. The diameter of the eye equals the width of the 

 interorbital space. 



From the northern coasts of Europe to Greenland and Iceland. 



a. Fine specimen. North coast of Norway. Purchased of Mr.Bi'andt. 

 h-c. Adult and half-grown : stuiFed. Plymouth. Presented by Lieut. 



H. F. Spence, R.N. 

 d-e. Advdt and half-gfown : skinj. From Mr. Yarrell's Collection. 

 /. Half-grown: mounted. 

 g. Skeleton, 51 inches long. British. 

 h. Half-grovm : skeleton. 



PameU and Nilsson have fully described this species. 



This species has a greater number of vertebrce than any of the pre- 

 ceding ; the abdominal cavity terminates below the twenty-seventh 

 vertebra, and the caudal portion of the vertebral column is as long 

 as, or a little shorter than, the abdominal. The neural spines of the 

 anterior and middle abdominal vertebrae are depressed, and like their 

 transverse processes rather short. The bones of the skull are more 

 solid than in the true Gadus. 



