FAMILY GADID^ — MERLUCIUS. 281 



of the branchial aperture ; another commencing near and above the origin of the preceding, 

 runs obliquely towards the central part of the summit of the head, joining its opposite from 

 the other side, and forming with it an inverted V ; from the apex of this figure, there is 

 another central elevated line running backward over the nape. Eyes large and prominent} 

 nearer the end of the snout than to the posterior margin of the opercles, and near the facial 

 outline ; diameter of the orbits,  8. Nostrils double ; the posterior largest, and separated 

 from the anterior by a narrow slip of membrane. Mouth wide, with fleshy lips. Lower jaw 

 longest. Membrane of the opercle large and pointed. Seven flat branchial rays ; the mem- 

 brane of the left side overlapping that of the opposite. Tongue large and distinct. 



Both jaws armed with ill defined series of very sharp recurved teeth, some of which are 

 • 2 in length, and resemble the fangs of serpents ; these long fang-like teeth are distant, 

 the interval being filled up with smaller teeth to supply their places. In the central portion 

 of the upper jaw, is an interval destitute of teeth. On the palatines, on each side, there is a 

 series of twelve or fifteen teeth of the same shape, and nearly as prominent as those in the 

 jaws. The outer row of branchial arches with long pectinated processes ; the others with 

 series of tubercles, composed of sharp card-like teeth. The lower pharyngeals consist of 

 two long triangular patches of sharp recurved teeth on each side ; the two posterior are some- 

 what triangular, and placed side by side ; above these are two others, sublinear, and extend- 

 ing transversely across the jaw. 



The first dorsal subquadrate, with a delicate membrane connecting the rays ; it commences 

 5' 5 from the end of the snout, and its base two inches in extent. At an interval of 0-6, 

 commences the second dorsal, which extends the whole length of the back nearly to the tail ; 

 at the thirteenth ray, we noticed a double ray followed by two others apparently naked ; we 

 say apparently, but in reality they were only denuded ; the following ray,was broken off, and 

 a similar occurrence in other specimens has probably led some ichthyologists to place this 

 species in another genus. I suppose the double ray and the isolated ones to have been purely 

 accidental. All the rays of the dorsal are simple, and often terminate in a filament ; from 

 the sixteenth to the twenty-second ray, the fin is low, gradually increasing to the twenty- 

 fourth, which, with one or two others, are 1 • 5 high, and thence gradually decrease to the 

 termination. Pectorals long and slender, extending to the interval between the first and second 

 dorsal, composed of simple slender rays. Ventrals broad, and placed before the pectorals. 

 The vent at a point beneath the interval of the first and second dorsal. Anal of forty rays, 

 subequal throughout the greatest portion of its extent, higher towards its termination ; but a 

 few of the last rays much shorter, and extending slightly beyond the termination of the dor- 

 sal. Caudal lunate, almost furcate, with minute ovate scales extending far up the rays. 



The abdominal cavity coated with a black pigment. Liver of one large and broad lobe, 

 extending beyond the vent. Stomach very muscular, cylindrical, and without ca2cal appen- 

 dages. Kidneys large ; urinary bladder large, and opening externally by a distinct aperture 

 posterior to the vent. Air-bladder ample, largest before, where it has two sac-like processes ; 

 it is supported throughout its whole extent by dilated membranous processes from the ver- 

 tebrae. 



Fauna — Part 4. 36 



