COT). 61 



fill. Scales small; lateral line conspicuous, at first nearer the 

 back, lower and straight behind. Dorsal fins three, the first 

 beginning a little behind the root of the pectorals, irregularly 

 rounded; anal fins two; pectorals round; ventrals short, the 

 first rays extended and pointed; tail slightly round. Colour 

 on the back dark yellow, sometimes brown; sides mottled; 

 belly Avhite; all the fins soft. The Cod of the north of England 

 has the snout much shorter and rounder than the fish of the 

 west coast. We have already mentioned the great weight to 

 which it sometimes reaches, but from thirty to forty pounds is 

 a more general size. 



From Griffith's translation of Cuvier's "Animal Kingdom" we 

 learn that in the neighbouihood of the Isle of INIan, there is 

 found a variety of the Common Cod, which is named Hod 

 Cod, or Rock Cod, the skin of which is a brightish vermilion 

 colour, and the flesh of it is considered superior to that of 

 the other. It was the opinion of Dr. Turton that there was 

 also another species of British Cod, which he named the 

 Speckled Cod, f Morrhua punctata, J but which he himself 

 appears not to have met with when he published his translation 

 of Linnaeus's "System." It has been shewn, however, in a 

 way not to be doubted, by Dr. Dyce, in the "Annals, etc. of 

 Natural History," 1860, that this supposed species was no other 

 than a mis-shaped example, such as is scarcely uncommon 

 among fish, of the Common Cod; and Dr. Dyce illustrates his 

 observations by some dissections which prove that the foundation 

 of the deformity was in the structure of the bones of the back, 

 as was the case also in the deformed example of the Codfish 

 which we have described. 



A Cod came under observation, which was in good condition 

 and of full growth, which possessed only one pectoral fin, while 

 on the other side there existed merely a stump, Avhich had 

 the appearance ot having been originally formed in that con- 

 dition. It is probable that it was in consequence ot this 

 deficiency the ventral fins had been called more particularly 

 into action, for the purpose of regulating the positions of tht 

 body. 



The JLerncea branchialis, which is a large and formidable 

 parasite, is not unfrequeutly found firmly attached to the gills 

 of this fish. 



