ICHTHYOLOGY. 



217 



Malacop- 

 terygii 



Siib-lira- 

 '■hiati. 



Claduloe. 



and pointed teeth, and their inner surface is rendered 

 bristly by a coverinf; of sharp, rasp-like teeth. The gill- 

 covcrs are united below by a connnon membrane, having 

 three rays on each side. These fishes are covered with 

 scales of a stony hardness. The dorsal and anal fins, 

 which arc opposite to one another, are both situate very 

 far back. The two outer rays of the tail, and the first 

 ray of all the other fins, are furnished with scales so as to 

 make them appear dentated. The pylorus has many short 

 CKca. The swimming bladder is cellular, as in Amia. 



There appear to be several species or varieties of this 

 fish. They inhabit the rivers and lakes of the warm parts 

 of America. They grow to a considerable size, and are 

 considered to be good eating. l)r Fleming observes, that 

 the claims of Lepisosteus osseus to rank as a British spe- 

 cies are ver)' doubtful. Berkenhout indeed has inserted 

 it in his Si/twpsis (yi. 81), with the habitat of Sussex coast ; 

 and Mr Stewart, in his Elements of Nat. Hist. (vol. i. p. 

 374), intimates its occurrence in the I'irtli of Forth ; but 

 we are not aware of its having been seen among us in re- 

 cent times. We here figure the Lepisosteus spatula of 

 Lacepede {Esox Cepediaiivs, Shaw), a native of the seas 

 and rivers of America. Plate CCCV. fig. 4. 



Genus I'oLVPTEnus, Geoff. Distinguished at once 

 from other genera by a number of separate fins placed 

 along the back, each supported by a strong spine, to the 

 posterior edge of which are attached some soft rays. The 

 caudal fin surrounds the end of the tail, and the anal is 

 very near it; the ventrals are very far back. The body 

 is covered with bony scales like those of the preceding 

 genus, and the whole cheek is covered by an osseous 

 plate, shagreened in a similar manner to those on the rest 

 of the head. Around each jaw there is a row of conical 

 teeth, and behind some close or rasp-like teeth. Their 

 stomach is capacious, the intestine narrow, with a spiral 

 valve and one ca3cum. The swimming bladder is double, 

 with large lobes, particularly that on the lel't side, com- 

 municating by a wide aperture with the cesophagus. 



Polypt. bichir (P. Niloticus, Shaw) may be named as a 

 species of the genus. It has.sixteen dorsal fins, and was 

 discovered by M. GeofFroy in the Nile. (See Plate CCCV. 

 fig. 3.) Polypt. Senegalus, Guv. is another species from 

 Senegal. It has only twelve dorsal fins. The flesh of 

 these fish is good eating. 



ORDER III.— MALACOPTERVGII SUB-BRACHIATI. 



This order is characterised by the attachment of the 

 ventral fins beneath the pectorals, — which latter may be 

 regarded as analogous to the arms, and hence the name 

 Sub-brachian. The pelvis is suspended immediately from 

 the bones of the shoulder. 



This order contains as many families as Linnsan genera. 



FAMILY I._GADID.E. 



Comprehends the members of the great Linnaean genus 

 Gadus, containing the well-known cod and haddock. 



The Gadi in general are recognised by the ventral fins 

 being pointed and attached to the throat. The body is 

 moderately elongated, slightly compressed, and covered 

 with soft and not very large scales. The head is well 

 proportioned, and without scales ; all the fins are soft. 

 The jaws, and the front of the von)er, are armed with 

 several rows of pointed, irregular, middle-sized, or small 



teeth, forming a sort of currycomb or rasp. Their gill 

 covers are large, with seven rays. Most of the species 

 have two or three fins on the back, one or two behind the 

 anus, and a distinct caudal. Their stomach forms a large 

 muscular sac ; the ca;ca are very numerous. The swim- ' 

 ming bladder is large, and lias strong parietes, frequently 

 dentated on the sides. 



These fishes generally live in cold or temperate cli- 

 mates, and constitute a very important article of fishery. 

 The greater number are considered wholesome, and form 

 a light and agreeable food, — the flesh scjiarating easily by 

 boiling, into white flaky layers. The great sand bank of 

 Newfoundland is the most famous station of the cod fish- 

 eries, and is resorted to by English fishermen, who chiefly 

 use the hook and line. The fish abound in this place 

 probably on account of the great quantity of the sn)aller 

 animals which serve as food, viz. mussels, clams, &c. 



The family of GauidjE has been divided by Cuvicr into 

 MouHHUA, or cods properly so called, Meklangus or 

 whitings, Merluccius or hakes, Lota or lings, Motella, 

 Brosmius, Buotula, Piiycis, and Uaniceps. 



Genus Moriiiiua, Cuv. Has three dorsal fins and 

 two anal ; a tuft at the point of the lower jaw. The spe- 

 cies are extremely prolific. 



M. vulgaris ( Gadus morrhua, L.). The common cod 

 {la Morue, Fr. ; Kabliau, Germ.) measures from two to 

 three feet in lengtli. The back is spotted with yellowish 

 brown. It inhabits the whole Northern Ocean, and occurs 

 in vast profusion. 



This fish dwells in salt water only. It is not found 

 nearer the equator than the 40th degree of latitude. The 

 weight of the common cod varies from twelve to eighty 

 or even 100 pounds. It is extremely voracious, and its 

 digestive powers are seemingly very great. It feeds upon 

 smaller fishes, such as herrings, on MoUusca, worms, and 

 Crustacea, and even on the young of its own species. It 

 has a strong muscular stomach, and is said to possess the 

 power of rejecting by the mouth substances, such as wood, 

 &c. which it finds indigestible. 



In spring they come nearer the shore in order to depo- 

 sit their spawn. This happens in January in England, in 

 February in Norway, Denmark, and Scotland, and in 

 March in Newfoundland. One female is said to contain 

 from four to nine millions of eggs ! 



The most extensive cod fisheries on our coasts are off 

 the Western and Shetland Isles, but they are still greater 

 in more northern countries. The cod has been fished on 

 the coast of Sweden since the year 1368, by the inhabitants 

 of Amsterdam. The English resorted to Iceland before 

 the year 1415; and it is stated that in the year 1792, 200 

 French vessels of a burden of 191,153 tons were employed 

 in the cod fishery. Every year more than 6000 European 

 vessels are employed in this fishery.' 



The flesh of the cod has a good flavour, and may be 

 easily preserved. The tongue, salted and dried, lias been 

 considered a great delicacy. The gills are preserved and 

 used as bait. The liver is eaten, and is sometimes used 

 for the production of oil. The swimming bladder affords 

 a very good isinglass. 



This important species constitutes a principal article of 

 food to the inhabitants in some parts of Iceland, Norway, 

 and other northern countries. In a dried state it is also 

 much used in some papal kingdoms of the south. 



In the neighbourhood of the Isle of Man, and elsewhere, 

 there is a variety of the cod named the red or rock cod, 

 the skin of which is of a brightish vermillion colour. Its 

 flesh is much esteemed. 



Malacop- 

 tcryf»ii 



Sub-bia- 

 chi:jti. 



Ciiiiliiioe. 



' We cannot in this place enter upon the important subject oi Fisheries ; but the reader mav consult with advantage Pennant's 

 BrHish Zoology, vol. iii. and Duhaniel's Trailc Giniral del Peachu. 



VOL. XII. 2 E 



