444 PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. [GADUS. 



I be wrong in holding this opinion, the minute description which I have 

 given above of the Pout, as it occurs at Hastings, where my specimens 

 were obtained, will not be without its use in enabling future observers 

 to point out more precisely than has been hitherto done, the essential 

 differences between it and the true G. luscus. 



(25.) Lord-Fish. 



Mr. Yarrell possesses the drawing of a fish (itself, unfortunately, not 

 preserved) which was brought to him some years since, under the above 

 name, by the Thames fishermen, and which was said to have been taken at 

 the mouth of that river. In general form, it approaches the G. luscus, but 

 it differs remarkably from that species, in having the first anal much 

 shorter, and more rounded, commencing at a further distance from the 

 head, and leaving a considerable space between itself and the second anal ; 

 the vent also, which in G. luscus is in a line with the commencement of 

 the first dorsal, is here in a line with the commencement of the second 

 dorsal, or hardly so far advanced, being nearer the tail than the head. 

 The number of fin-rays is as follows : 



D. 1419-18; A. 17-^11; C. 24; P. 14; V. 6. 



It is impossible to do more than thus briefly indicate the existence of 

 a fish, which, if not a case of accidental deformity*, may hereafter turn 

 out to be an undescribed species. 



127. Gr. minutus, Linn. (Poor.) Depth one-fifth of 

 the length : first dorsal entirely before the first anal. 



G. minutus, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 438. Block, Ichth. pi. 67. 

 f. 1. Turt. Brit: Faun. p. 90. Asellus mollis minor, Will. Hist. 

 Pise. p. 171. tab. L. m. 1. n. 1. f. 2. Morhua minuta, Flem. Brit. 

 An. p. 191. Poor or Power, Jago in Rays Syn. Pise. p. 163. fig. 6. 

 Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. HI. p. 185. pi. 30. no. 77. Id. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 249. pi. 34. 



LENGTH. From six to eight inches. 



DESCRIPT. The smallest species in the genus, but more elongated 

 in proportion than the G. luscus : greatest depth one-fifth of the entire 

 length : head contained nearly five times in the same : lateral line nearly 

 straight : a row of very distinct open pores, six or seven in number, com- 

 mencing near the corner of the mouth, on each side of the head, and 

 extending along the margin of the preopercle: distance from the end 

 of the snout to the commencement of the first dorsal considerably less 

 than one-third of the entire length : vent in a line with the tenth ray of 

 the fin just mentioned : first dorsal entirely before the first anal, this last 

 commencing nearly in the same line as that in which the former ter- 

 minates : number of fin-rays, 



D. 132420; A. 2824; P. 18; V. 6. 



In all other respects, the form of this species is similar to that of the 

 G. luscus. The colour, according to Pennant, is light brown on the 

 back, and dirty white on the belly. 



Dr. Fleming compiles from Willughby and Pennant. I would beg to ask, after this statement, 

 what is the value of our authority for considering these species as distinct? In further confirma- 

 tion of their identity, I may add that Mr. Yarrell has received from Mr. Couch, of Cornwall, 

 a drawing of the fish which is called Bib on that coast, and that it proves in every respect to be 

 the same as the Whiting Pout of the London market. 



* This has been suggested by Mr. Yarrell, who hints that it may possibly be only a monstrous 

 variety of the G. Morrhua, and that the name of Lord-Fish, given it by the fishermen, may 

 be due to this circumstance. 



