MoRHUA. FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS 191 



76. M. vulgaris. Common Cod. — The first ray of the anal 



fin spinous. 



Asellus merluccius, Merr. Pin. 184. — A major, Sibb. Scot. 23. Will. Ich. 

 165. — Gadus Morhua, Linn. Syst. i. 4.36. Penn. Brit. Zool. ill. 172. 

 — £, Keeling.— Abundant on many parts of the coast. 



Length about 3 feet. Colour grey above, freckled with yellow ; beneath 

 white. The lateral line straight to opposite the vent, when it bends towards 

 the tail, white and broad. The tail is nearlv even. The jaws equal. 1st 

 D. 12, 2d 18, 3d IG ; P. 14; V. 7 ; 1st A. 20, 2"d IC ; C. 36. Spawns in spring. 

 — This fish, universally esteemed as an article of food, is eagerly sought after 

 on those sea-banks which it frequents. The most extensive fisheries in our 

 seas are off the western isles and the coast of Zetland. 



The Morhua callarias or Torsk, first inserted in the British Fauna by 

 Berkenhout, syn. i. 67, probably on the authority of a passage in Willough- 

 by, (non ita dudum piscator hujus generis Assellum 4 pedes longum in sinu 

 minore ad Ekrefordiam urbem cepit, raro spectaculo.— /cA. p. 172.) does not 

 appear to have been noticed in our seas or estuaries by any recent observer. 

 It differs chiefly from the common cod in the lateral line being spotted, and 

 the upper jaw being longer. The tail is even, or a little rounded. 



77. M. j^glefinus. Haddock. — Upper-jaw longest ; tail 

 forked. A spot behind the pectorals, and the lateral line 

 black. 



A. Haddock, Merr. Pin. 184. — Asellus Callarias, Sibb. Scot. 23 Ones, 



Will. Ich. 170. Gadus seg. Linn. Syst. i. 435. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 

 179. Common on many parts of the coast. 

 Length 18 inches. Back dusky ; belly white ; head sloping; eyes large. 

 Fins like the preceding. Spawns in spring. Gregarious like the cod, but 

 shifting its haunts at uncertain intervals. Superstition assigns the black la- 

 teral marks to the impression of St Peter's thumb and finger, when he took 

 the tribute out of the mouth of a fish, supposed to be of this species, and 

 which mark has been continued to the race. 



78. M. lusca. Bib. — The first ray of the ventral fins pro- 

 duced and setaceous. 



Asellus luscus. Will. Ich. 169. Gadus luscus, Linn. Syst. i. 437. Penn. 

 Brit. Zool. iii. 184. Not uncommon. 



Length about a foot. Body broad ; sides compressed ; back olive ; belly 

 white. Scales large. Tail nearly even. One row of long recurved teeth. 

 Eyes covered with a loose membrane. The 1st d. 12, (the second ray longest) 

 2d 23, 3d 2 ; p. 16 ; v. 7. This species is the Beb or Blinds of Cornwall, the 

 Miller's Thumb, or Deillion, in Caernarvon, and the Smeltie of Zetland. 



79. M. barhata. Pout. — Back arched ; the first dorsal fin 

 triangular, ending in a long fibre. 



AsseUus sub mento barbatus, Merr. Pin. 184. A. moUis latus, Lister, 



WiU. Ich. app. 22. Gadus barbatus, Linn. Syst. 1. 437. Penn. Brit. 



Zool. iii. 183. E, Whiting Pout, Kleg. A rare species. 



Length about a foot. Colour whitish ; a spot behind the pectorals ; the 



fins and tail black. Body remarkably deep ; back carinated ; scales small ; 



tail even. Lateral line white, broad and crooked. Mouth smaU ; on each 



side of the lower jaw are seven or eight punctures. 



80. M. mimita. Poor. — Nine punctures on each side of the 

 jaws and gill-covers. Peritoneum black. 



