Holt and Calderwood — Report on the Rarer Fishes. 



441 



but the forward extension of the fin in the former genus seems to render this 

 rather unlikely, and to suggest that the fin-stage, in other respects parallel to that 

 of Merluccius, &c., diverges so far from the general line of Gadoid evolution as to 

 show no trace of the separation of a short first dorsal. 



In Mora (or Halargyreus) (fig. B), we have a distinct advance, since the short 

 first dorsal is already separate, while the outline of the posterior portion shows 

 strong incurvation in its central region, while the anal is only continuous through 



Fig. B. 



the medium of the three very minute rays already alluded to. The transition 

 to Gadus (fig. C), the highest fin-stage in the series, is very easy, but since the 

 present condition in the fins of that genus seem to indicate a contemporaneous 

 sub-division of dorsal and anal, it is evident that evolution has proceeded in so far 



Fig. C. 



as regards the relations of the different parts of the primordial fin-fold along a line 

 slightly different to that exemplified by Mora. 



Teeth. — Small, slightly curved, cardiform teeth in a band, widest anteriorly on 

 each praemaxilla. A toothless interval between the bands for the reception of an 

 eminence of the S3^mphysis of the mandibles. Teeth on dentaries similar to those 

 of prsemaxillge. Small cardiform teeth in a curved patch on each vomer, slightly 

 more conspicuous than those of jaws. A small patch also on each palatine. 



Scales. — Present on the body, fins, and head, except on the jaws. Large, 

 oblong, slightly convex anteriorly and posteriorly ; not much longer than broad 

 on the sides of the body, but becoming very elongated towards the dorsal and 

 ventral region. There are 90 rows of scales crossing the lateral line, and about 

 25 scales in a transverse row from the first ray of the second dorsal. About 8 or 9 

 of these are above, and about 15 or 16 below the lateral line : the condition of the 



TRANS. EOT. DUB, SOC, N.S. VOL. V., PART IX. 



3E 



