THE BURBOT 221 



when three or four years old they become sexually 

 mature. 



In its mode of life the Burbot recalls the Eel 

 and the Bull-head, and whilst its head and mouth 

 remind us of the latter, its long slippery body and 

 its undulating movements when swimming are 

 points of resemblance to the former species. It 

 is readily captured in traps or on lines baited with 

 worms or small fish, being neither shy nor wary ; 

 it is much appreciated as food, especially on the 

 Continent, the flesh being white and firm, and the 

 liver in particular being esteemed a delicacy. It is 

 very tenacious of life and will live for some time 

 out of the water. 



The name Burbot is from the old French 

 Bourbotte (modern French Barbote), whilst Eel- 

 Pout is from the Saxon Aele-puta, a name alluding 

 to the Eel-like form of the fish and probably to 

 its prominent, pouting belly. 



We now come to the important order Perco- 

 MORPHI, including fishes which agree with the 

 Anacanthini in the absence of a pneumatic duct 

 and in the structure of the mouth, which is typi- 

 cally toothed, with the protractile praemaxillaries 

 excluding the maxillaries from the oral border. 

 The Percomorphi, however, differ from all the 

 fishes previously considered in fin structure ; the 

 anterior rays of the dorsal fin are unjointed, typi- 

 cally stiff and pungent spines, which often form a 

 distinct spinous dorsal fin ; the anal fin is preceded 

 by similar spines ; the pelvic fins are placed 

 anteriorly, and each is formed of six or fewer rays, 

 the outer of which is usually spinous. As a rule 

 the pelvic bones are directly attached to the 



