142 U. 8. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS— ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



MOERHUA PROXIMA, Grd. 

 Plate XLa, Fms. 5 — 8. 



Spec. Char. Snout sub-conical ; thickish ; upper jaw protruding beyond the lower one. Poeterior extremity of maxillar 



bono extending to a vertical line which would intersect the pupil. Dorsal and anal fins all distinct from one another. Anterior 

 anal longer than the second dorsal Caudal fin posteriorly sub-truncated. Yellowish ash or brown above ; sides and belly 

 silvery white. 



Sjs.—Gadus proximus, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 18.54, 141 &.154. 

 Morrhua californica, Athes, in Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sc. I, 1854, 9. 



We think the species allied to Gadus gracilis, Tiles., and described in Pallas, Zoogr. Ross. 

 Asiat. Ill, 1831, 186 ; and still more so to G. pygmaeus, Pall. loc. cit. pag. 199. 



This appears to be a rather small species, for, amongst all the specimens brought home by 

 several parties, the largest measures but seven and a quarter of an inch. In this respect it 

 reminds us of M. pruinosa and M. minuta, of our New England coast. It is especially related 

 to the former species, M. pruinosa, the tomcod or frost fish of our fishermen. 



The body is slender, elongated, and compressed, sub-fusiform in profile, rather graceful in 

 appearance. The greatest depth is under the anterior dorsal fin, hence the outline tapers grad- 

 ually towards the insertion of the caudal. 



The head is contained about four times and a half in the total length, or a little over that 

 measure. The snout is sub-conical, rather pointed, the upper jaw overlapping considerably the 

 lower one, which exhibits under its symphysis the characteristic barbel of the genus. The mouth 

 is of moderate development ; the posterior extremity of the maxillary extending to a vertical 

 line drawn through the middle of the pupil. The eye is above the medium size, sub-circular in 

 form, its diameter being contained about four and a half times in the length of the side of the 

 head. The nostrils are placed much nearer the orbit than the extremity of the snout. The 

 branchial apertures are continuous under the throat, and extend as far anteriorly as the posterior 

 rim of the orbit. The branchiostegal rays are six on either side, and rather well developed. 



The three dorsal fins are distinct from one another. The anterior one is sub-triangular, higher 

 than long. The second dorsal is longer than high, sub-triangular in shape also, and lower 

 than the first. The third dorsal fin is longer than high, resembling the second in shape, being 

 only smaller than the latter. The caudal is sub-truncated upon its posterior margin. 



The posterior anal is situated opposite the third dorsal, and similar in general size and outline. 

 As to the anterior anal fin, it is longer than its opposite, the second dorsal, and deeper also than 

 the latter is high. Its anterior margin corresponds to the posterior ray of the first 

 dorsal, and its posterior ray is placed almost opposite the anterior margin of the third dorsal 

 fin. The ventrals are slender ; their filiform extremity reaches the vent, which is placed imme- 

 diately in advance of the first anal fin. The pectorals are rather small and slender ; their pos- 

 terior extremities extend to a vertical line intersecting the vent. 



Br. YI : VI ; D 13, 21, 22 ; A 26, 21 ; C 5, 1, 16, 16, 1, 5 ; V 6 ; P 17. 



The rays, as a general thing, are bifurcated or subdivided. The scales are small, sub-elliptical 

 in shape, exhibiting radiating furrows upon their entire periphery. The focus of irradiation is 

 eccentrical towards the anterior extremity of the scale. 



The color above is yellowish ash or yellowish brown, with an occasional reddish hue. The 



