292 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
Color. Reddish brown, with slight metallic reflections on the cheeks, and a dark patch 
beneath the orbits. Abdomen lighter, mixed with grey, and a faint pinkish or orange hue along 
the base of the anal. Irides silvery, tinged with yellow. Anal bluish white, darkly margined 
along its tip with brownish. This has suggested to a writer of no authority, the name of 
marginatus. Dorsals dark brown. A faint crescent-shaped mark on the caudal fin. 
Length, 12:0. 
Fin rays, D. 10.52; P.17; V.2; A. 50; C. 18 3. 
This species appears to feed chiefly on the smaller crustacea, as in several which I opened, 
the stomachs were filled with nothing else. It is very abundant at some seasons. Our markets 
are usually supplied with them from the coast east of Cape Cod, but they also occur in our 
waters. It is most abundant in the early part of the autumn, and varies in weight from three 
to thirty pounds. It is called indiscriminately Hake and Codling by our fishermen ; but as 
the name of Hake is already applied to another genus (Merlucius), it seems preferable, in 
order to avoid confusion, to make use ofthe other name. I found them equally palatable 
with the common cod. ; 
The geographic range of this species appears to be from the coast of New-York north- 
wardly. 
THE SPOTTED CODLING. 
PuyciIs PUNCTATUS, 
FLATE XLVI. FIG. 149. 
The Spotted Cod, Gadus punctatus. Mrircniti, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc, Vol. 1, p. 372, pl. 1, fig. 5. 
The Spotted Phycis, G.(Phycis) punctatus. Ricwarpson, Faun. Bor. Am, Vol. 3, p. 253, figure. 
Characteristics. Lateral line alternately black and white. A black spot on the first dorsal. 
Caudal emarginate. Length ten inches. 
Description. Body cylindrical, subfusiform. Head small. Scales soft, and very deciduous. 
Lateral line nearly straight, black; with alternate white dashes a quarter of an inch long, 
occurring at spaces half an inch apart. Barbel under the chin, small. The jaws, palate and 
throat armed with minute sharp teeth ; lower jaw shortest. Ventral fins bifid, and its longest 
ray two inches in length. 
Color. Back and sides pale brown or whitish, with lines between the scales; neck and 
belly dull white, with suffusions of cream color. The first dorsal marked above with a black 
spot, surmounted by the white tips of the rays. In some individuals, an imperfect whitish 
straight fillet under the lateral line. Anal fin brownish, edged with blackish. 
Length, 10-0. Depth, 3:0. 
Fin rays, D. 9’or 10.47 5(P 513; V. 1; A. 473 C223; 
