NORWECilAN WHITING POLLACK. 



509 



of the third dorsal and second anal tins there is a 

 l)reak, behind which, though it may l)e indistinct, tlie 

 depth of the tail decreases more ra])idiy. 



The head is comparatively smaller than in either 

 of the two preceding species, and its relative length, 

 contrary to the general rule in most of the species of 

 this germs, seems to decrease with age, varying between 

 about 24'/. and 22^;^ % of that of the l)od}-. The eyes, 

 on the other liand, are large; and their longitudinal 

 diameter, as in tlie Poor Cod, is distinctly greater in 

 young specimens than the length of tlie snout, and in 

 old specimens at least equal to it. Tlieir size varies 

 consideraldy in different individuals. Their diameter 

 varies with age between about 8\ A, and 6V., % of the 

 length of th(! body, while the length of the snout varies 

 still more individuallv bet\\'een about (i and 7 % thereof. 

 The nostrils are situated as in the Pollack, but are 

 somewhat larger. Tlie mouth is also larger, the hind 

 extremity of the maxillary bones extending farther 

 back belo\v the eyes, for about a third of the length of 

 the latter, while the length of the lower jaw is greater 

 than in the Coalfish, hut less than in the Pollack". 

 This is due to the fact that the lower jaw does not 

 project so far as in the latter species. A small barbel 

 is suspended from the chin. The mouth is turned 

 upwards at an angle of about 30^. The jaw-teeth are 

 set, as in all the small Cods, in a very narrow card 

 (2 — 4 rows) in front, and in a single row behind; and 

 are small and of fairly uniform size, as in the other 

 species of the Coaltish-group. On the head of the 

 vomer they are set in a curved, obtuse-angled, trans- 

 verse row. The hind margin of the gill-cover is some- 

 what elongated just above the insertion of the pectoral 

 tin, but the postorbital part of the head as a whole is 

 shorter than in either of the two preceding species, its 

 length varying ^vith age between about 10 and 9 % 

 of that of the body*". The branchiostegal membranes 

 are united underneath into a free, continuous, dermal 

 fold, which at the middle extends a little behind the 

 posterior extremities of the branches of the lower jaw. 



The paired tins are pointed and longer than in 

 the two preceding species of this group. The two 

 uppermost rajs of the pectoral fins are simple, the fii'st 

 being about ■'.. as long as the second, which does not 



quite extend to the tip of the tin. The 3rd — 6th rays 

 are the longest. The tip of these tins always extends 

 behind the vent, their length varying with age between 

 about 16 and nearly 19 % of that cjf the body. The 

 first two rays of the ventral fins are also simple, and 

 the second raj' is the longest in tiie whole fin, though 

 oidy slightly longer than the first. The length of these 

 fins varies with age between about 1 1 and 13 % of 

 that of the bodv, and their insertions lie distinctly in 

 front of those of the pectoral fins. 



The unpaired fins are well separated, and are 

 distinguished from those of the other species of this 

 group jjartly by the more forward position of the 

 dorsal fins, and partly by the greater length of the 

 third dorsal and the second anal fins. 



The first dorsal fin is the highest, and when erected 

 almost resembles a right-angled triangle, the base of 

 which is about 10' ^ — llV. % of the length of the body, 

 and which begins at a distance from the tip of the 

 snout of aljout 28 — 27 % (sometimes 26 %) thereof. 

 The first two rays are simple, the others (with the 

 exception, according to the general rule, of the last of 

 all) finel}^ branched at the tip. The third ray is the 

 longest, its length being aljout 13 — 15 % of that of 

 the body. The second dorsal fin is more elongated, 

 and its first two rays are also simple, the tliird ray 

 being generally tlie longest, though only slightly longer 

 than the second or fourth, and slightly shorter than 

 the longest ray of the preceding fin. The distance 

 between this tin and the tip of the snout is about 

 38V'2 — 41 %, and the length of its base about 20 — 

 22\2 %, of the length of the body. The third dorsal 

 fin begins at a distance from the tip of the snout 

 measuring about 62 — 66 % of the length of the body, 

 and the length of its base is between 18 and about 

 M % of the same length. The first three rays are 

 simple, and the fourth, fifth, or sixth the longest, its 

 length being about 10— 10' ., % of that of the body. 



The distance between the beginning of the first 

 anal fin and the tip of the snout is between about 38 

 (sometimes 36',) and 41 % of the length of the body, 

 and its base measures about 27*/2 — 22V2 ^ of the latter. 

 The first three (in young specimens the first four or 

 five) rays are simple, and the fifth ray the longest, its 



" The distance between the tip of the snout and tlie liinil extremity of the maxillary bones varies with age between about 11 and 

 0' ., \ of tlie length of the body, and the length of the lower jaw between abont 13' .^ and 12 '. of the latter. 



'' In the two preceding species we have never found the postorbital length of the head less than lO'/, % of the length of the body. 



