COD-FISHES. 539 



Second Family — Gadid^e, 



Body more or less elongate, covered ivith small smooth seales. 

 One, two, or three dorsal fins, oecupying nearly the ivhole of the 

 hack ; rays of the posterior dorsal ivell developed ; one or two 

 anal fins. Caudcd free from dorsal and. anal, or, if they are 

 united, the dorsal with a separate anterior portion. Ventrals 

 jugular, comijosed of several rays, or, if they are reduced to a 

 filament, the dorscd is divided into two. Gill-opening ivide ; 

 the gill-memhranes generally not attached to the isthmus. 

 Fseuddhranchioe none, or glandular, rudimentary. An air- 

 Uadder and pyloric appendages generally present. 



Tlie family of " Cod-fislies " consists partly of littoral and 

 surface species (and they form the majority), partly of deep- 

 sea forms. The former are almost entirely confined to the 

 temperate zones, extending beyond the Arctic Circle ; the 

 latter have, as deep-sea fishes generally, a mnch wider range, 

 and liitherto have been found chiefiy at considerable depths 

 of rather low latitudes. Only two or three species inhabit 

 fresh waters. They form one of the most important articles 

 of food and su.bsistence to the fishermen in Europe and North 

 America, and to whole tribes bordering upon the Arctic 

 Ocean. 



Fossil remains are scarce. Nemopteryx and Palceogadus 

 have been described from the schists of Glaris, a formation 

 believed to have been the bottom of a very deep sea. In the 

 clay of Sheppey species occur allied to Gadus, Merluccius, and 

 Phycis ; others, not readily determinable, have been found at 

 Licata in Sicily (Miocene). 



Gadus. — Body moderately elongate, covered Avith small 

 scales. A separate caudal, three dorsal, and two anal fins ; 

 ventrals narrow, composed of six or more rays. Teeth in the 

 upper jaw in a narrow band ; vomerine teeth ; none on the pala- 

 tines. 



