152 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Family II.— GADID^. 



Pseudobrancliia?, when present, glandular and rudimentary. Body more 

 or less elongate. Gill-openings wide : gill-membranes generally not attached 

 to the isthmus. One, two, or three dorsal fins, occupying as a rule the 

 entire length of the back, the rays of the last fin well developed : one or two 

 anal fins : caudal usually free : veutrals jugular, composed of several rays, 

 or if reduced to a filament the dorsal is divided into two. Scales eyelid, of 

 moderate or small size. Airbladder and pyloric appendages usually present. 



Geoqrapliiccd distribution. — Cosmopolitan, but found in the greatest abun- 

 dance in the northern temperate zone. 



Gunther writes : — -" The family of ' Codfishes' consists partly of littoral 

 and surface species (and they form the majority), partly of deep-sea forms. 

 The former are almost entirely confined to the temperate zones, extending 

 beyond the Arctic Circle ; the latter have, as deep-sea fishes generally, a 

 much wider range, and hitherto have been found chiefly at considerable 

 depths of rather low latitudes. Only two or three species inhabit fresh 

 waters." 



Although the last sentence is undoubtedly true, it does not follow that 

 many of the species most valuable to man do not exist in purely fresh water, 

 and could not be artificially bred and retained therein. Day gives instances, 

 on the authority of Lord Ducie, of Cod, Coalfish, and Pollack residing from 

 choice in freshwater lakes fed by snow streams ; while, on account of the 

 want of ossicles connecting the airbladder with the internal ear, he advances 

 the theory of a probable marine ancestry for the well known and highly 

 esteemed Burbot {Lota vulgaris), which is now a native of the fresh waters 

 of the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere, and never descends to 

 the sea. 



This is one of the most important families to the human race. 



Genus— LOTELLA. 



Lotella, Kaup, in Wiegm. Arch. 1858, p. 88. 



Branchiostegals seven (or six) : pseudobranchijc absent. Body of mode- 

 rate length. Chin with a barbel. Both jaws with a series of widely set 

 conical teeth : the upper witli an inner band of villiform teeth : none on the 

 vomer or palatine bones. Two dorsal fins, the anterior with from four to 

 nine rays: one anal fin: ventral fins with a flat base, and composed of 

 several rays : caudal free. Scales small. Pyloric appendages in moderate 

 numbers. 



Oeoqrapldcal distribution. — Coasts of south-eastern Australia and Tas- 

 mania ; New Zealand and Japan. 



LOTELLA CALLAEIAS. 



Lotella caUarias, Gnth. Ann. Nat. Hist. (3) 18G3. xi. p. 16 ; Casteln. Proc. 



Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, iii. p. 391 ; McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. ii. 



pi. 19; Macleay, Catal. Austr. Fish. ii. p. 114. 

 Lotella schuettii, Steindachn. SB. Ak. Wien, 18(36, liii. p. 456. 

 Lotella marginata, Macleay, Catal. Austr. Fish. ii. p. 114, 1881 ; AVoods, 



Fisher. N.S. Wales, p. 76, pi xxiii {lower figure). 

 ? Lotella sivanii, Johnston, Proc. E,oy. Soo. Tas. 1882, p. 126. 

 Lotella limhafa, Ogilby, Catal. N.S. Wales Fish. p. 47, 1880. 



