348 



VERTEBRATES I FISHES. 



Fig. 223 



whole inner sur- 

 face with rasp- 

 like teeth, and 

 a row of long, 

 pointed teeth a- 

 long their edg- 

 es. It contains 

 the Gar-Pikes of the Northern lakes and the Western 

 and Southern rivers, one species in Central America, and 

 another in Cuba. 



Gar- Pike, Lepidosteus. 



SUB-SECTION III. 



THE ORDER OF SUB-BRACHIAN MALACOPTERYGIANS. 



THIS Order embraces soft-rayed fishes which have the 

 ventrals inserted under the pectorals, and the pelvis 

 directly attached to the bones of the shoulder. 



GADID.E, OR COD FAMILY. This Family includes the 

 Cod and its allies, about sixty species of which are 

 known, most of them inhabiting cold or temperate seas. 



The Genus Morrhua Cods has three dorsals, two 

 anals, and a barbel at the point of the lower jaw. 



The American Cod, M. americana, Storer, is from twen- 

 ty-four to thirty-six inches long, olive-green above, dusky- 



American Cod, M. americana, Storer. 



white beneath, and the back and sides marked with yel- 

 lowish spots. There are several varieties, differing in their 

 color and markings. This species attains the weight of 



