GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE GADIDiE. 



533 



expected, wbetber it be in tbe arctic or tropical regions.* At spowning 

 time, when tbe northern forms develop greater vital activity and possess 

 a higher temperature of tbe blood, they seek for water of from 350 to 

 37°, as it may be found in February and March upon the southern coast 

 of Spitzbergen, at tbe Loffoden Islands, in the fiords of Finmark, and 

 at the Faroes, in May and June on tbe Banks of Newfoundland, 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Labrador; the southern forms, however, are 

 smaller and less lively, and live in uniform temperature ; they, therefore, 

 only migrate at spawning time to tbe near coast, but usually from water 

 of considerable depth. The former migrate in a horizontal direction ; 

 the latter in a vertical one. The Gadidic, then, are fresh-water and 

 migratory Gsh. They are voracious, and subsist upon marine vegeta- 

 tion as well as upon animals ; they are omnivorous, and consequently 

 readily adapt themselves to their surroundings. 



Professor M(ebius found in the stomach of Gadus morrhua, L., 

 large pieces of Ulva lactaca and Zostera marina, two marine plants, be- 

 sides shells, snails, crabs, and fishes. The above-mentioned variations in 

 color generally indicate differences in depths at which they live, and 

 comprise white, yellowish, brown, speckled, green, and black. t Every 

 species, it is true, lives at different depths at different seasons, but all 

 are capable of living at considerable depth, even tbe fresh-water species, 

 some of which inhabit fresh water at considerable elevations, especially 

 in Europe. This fact eeems also to prove their fresh-water origin, as 

 does the size of their gill openings, which enables them to absorb the 

 requisite amount of oxygen from the deep fresh water, always less rich in 

 that element than salt or surface water. Therefore, in seeking after fresh 

 water and deep water they are perfectly in accordance with their habits. 



The following tables will show the depths and elevations at which the 

 Gadidw live, as well as the temperature of the water, and the proportions 

 of salt contained in it : 



Barnes of species. 



Locality. 



Elevation 

 and depth. 



Temper- 

 ature. 



Proportion 

 of salt. 



Lota vulgaris , 

 Do 



The Alps, Lake of St. "1 f 



cJ^f^rJi^ VVTo'Af iTheae lakes are 180 

 ^""J!? ;-l\^°i: ^^^^ °^ \ to 240 ft. iu depth. ^ 



Do 



Gadiis m orrhua , 



Do 



Do , 



Do 



Phycig blennioides . . . 

 Gadus merlangus . . . 



Molva vulgaris 



Gadus minuhis 



Phycis I7,editcrraneus 

 Ha largyrc usJoh nsonii 

 Chiasmodus niger . 



Seelisberg 



Lake Garda j 



Baltic Sea, StoUesgrund 

 Baltic Sea, Benebanen . 



Baltic Sea, Dalaroe 



Kewfoundland 



North Sea 



Skagerak, Arendal 



European coasts 



Mediterranean 



Mediterranean, Sicily.. 



Atlaniio, Madeira 



Atlantic, Madeira 



Feet. 



1 s 

 5, 580 I .2 



2, 240 f t, 

 213) S 

 421 f 

 300 1 I 

 240 I I 

 360 . 

 300 1 5 I 



360 ^g.<; 



600 I Q I 



1, 000 I 1 

 1, 200 



1, 800 I I 



1,872 J (. 



I'er cent. 



4-5= C. 



1.44 



0.80 

 0.75 



3.60 

 3.64 



* Gadus mcrrhaa has been taken by tbe United States Fish Commission in from 34® 

 to 46° F. Lohi maculosa endures a much higher temperature iu the Connecticut Elver, 

 the Ohio, aiKl the Missouri. — B. 



t Variations iu color coincide with changes in the colors of surrounding objects upon 

 the feeding-grounds. — B. 



