MERLANGUS.] PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. 445 



First noticed as a British species by Jago, who obtained it on the 

 Cornish coast, where it has been since observed by Mr. Couch. The 

 specimen described above was caught at Weymouth, and measured eight 

 inches in length, considerably exceeding the size usually assigned by 

 authors to this species. Said to be very abundant in the Mediterranean, 

 and to go in large shoals. According to Willughby and Bloch, it is pecu- 

 liarly characterized internally by the peritonceum being black. 



GEN. 47. MERLANGUS, Cuv. 



128. M. vulgaris, Flem. (Whiting.) Upper jaw 

 longest : lateral line nearly straight. 



M. vulgaris, Flem. Brit. An. p. 195. Gadus Merlangus, Linn. 

 Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 438. Block, Ichth. pi. 65. Turt. Brit. 

 Faun. p. 91. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. u. pi. 36. Asellus mollis 

 major seu albus, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 170. tab. L. m. 1. n. 5. 

 Whiting, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. in. p. 190. Id. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 255. Merlan commun, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 332. 



LENGTH. From twelve to sixteen, rarely twenty, inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) More slender and elongated than the Common 

 Cod: greatest depth one-sixth of the entire length: head about one- 

 fourth : snout a little pointed; upper jaw very sensibly the longest: teeth 

 above in several rows ; the outer row longer than the others, and appear- 

 ing beyond those in the lower jaw, when the mouth is closed ; these last 

 forming but a single row : eyes round, large ; their diameter about one- 

 fifth the length of the head : no longitudinal groove on the nape : lateral 

 line nearly straight, showing only a slight flexure beneath the com- 

 mencement of the second dorsal : scales small : first dorsal commencing 

 at about one-third of the entire length ; of a triangular form, its length 

 and greatest elevation about the same, equalling two-thirds of the depth 

 of the body; third, fourth, and fifth, rays longest: second dorsal com- 

 mencing after a very short interval, much longer than the first, but in 

 other respects similar: third dorsal resembling the second, and com- 

 mencing after about the same interval; fourth and fifth rays longest: 

 vent in a line with the fourth ray of the first dorsal; first anal com- 

 mencing immediately behind it, and terminating a little beyond a ver- 

 tical line from the end of the second dorsal ; first seven rays gradually 

 increasing in length from the first, which is extremely short ; eighth and 

 some of the succeeding rays longest, and nearly even; last five or six 

 gradually decreasing : second anal answering to the third dorsal : caudal 

 nearly even : pectorals a little in advance of the first dorsal ; rather more 

 than half the length of the head ; third and fourth rays longest : vent- 

 ral s narrow and tapering, rather shorter than the pectorals ; second ray 

 much longer than the others : number of fin-rays, 



D. 151920; A. 3221 ; C. 31, and some short ones; P. 19; V. 6. 



(Colours.) Back, and upper part of the sides, pale brown, or reddish gray, 

 generally without spots : belly silvery : lateral line whitish : a dusky spot 

 at the roots of the pectoral fins. 



A common species, taken in large quantities for the table during the 

 spring and summer months. Said to keep in large shoals at the distance 

 of two or three miles from the shore. 



