PISCES. 219 



to the cod as an article of food, it is yel very palatable, and sold at a cheap 

 rate. They do not attain to the enormous size of the cod, although they 

 are caugbt off the New England coast, and consumed in great numbers. 

 Other American species are M. minuta, or power-cod, M. pruinosa, or 

 tom-cod, and others. 



The genus Merlangus, which comes next to Mori^hua, is similar to it in 

 other respects, but is without the filament on the chin. A prominent 

 European species, the Merlangus vulgaris, or whiting, is shown in pi. 85, 

 Jig. 2. It is, as far as known, not an inhabitant of American waters, its 

 place being supplied, among others, by Merlangus carhonarius and M. 

 purpurinus, both found abundantly off the coast of New England, where 

 they are indifferently called pollack. The genus Merlucius, or hake, has 

 two dorsals, the first short, the second very long ; a single very long anal, 

 and no barbel to the chin. A species, M. albidus, occurs in moderate 

 numbers oft' the coast of New England, and is generally termed whiting. 

 The genus Lota, or ling, is an inhabitant of fresh waters, being found of 

 several species in the great lakes, and various parts of the New England 

 States, as, well as north of these. It is characterized by the elongated 

 body, swollen belly, two dorsal and one anal fin, and the barbel on the chin. 

 The lings, or eel-pouts, are not favorites in the United States, although a 

 European species. Lota vulgaris, or burbot, is much esteemed. It is 

 rejiresented in ^/, 81, fig. 11. The genus Brosmius has but a single dorsal, 

 extending the entire length of the back ; a single barbel at the chin. The 

 American species, B jlavescens, or cusk, is much esteemed as an article 

 of food. The genus Phycis has two dorsals, one short, the posterior very 

 long ; the ventrals of two long rays united at the base. A single barbel on 

 the chin. An American species, Phycis americanus, known as the hake 

 or codling, is taken in considerable quantity, as an article of food. Other 

 genera, as Macrourus, Motella, which occur in the American seas, are of 

 little economical value. 



The family of PLEURONEcriD.f:, or Planid.e, of some systematic writers, 

 exhibits a remarkable anomaly, in having both eyes placed on the same 

 side of the head. The body is compressed and broad, with a single dorsal 

 extending from the head to the tail. There is no air bladder, and the 

 fishes of this family swim at the bottom of the water on one side, which 

 is generally white. The occurrence of both eyes in either the right or left 

 side may be either accidental or else a constant generic or specific cha- 

 racter. Branchiostegous rays six. The genus Platessa has both the 

 eyes and the color on the right or left side of the head ; the body rhom- 

 boidal. A row of teeth in each jaw, and others in the pharyngeals. 

 Dorsal fin commencing over the upper eye, and with the anal extending 

 nearly the whole length of the body, but not joined to the tail. The genus 

 is represented in America by seven or eight species of various character, 

 the larger of which, known as flat-fish or flounders, furnish an excellent 

 article of food. Platessa Jlesus, known in England as the flook or fluke, is 

 figured in pi. 81, fg. 9. Another European species is P. limanda, or the 

 dab. The genus Hippoglossus has a more elongated form, and stronger 



423 



