OSSEOUS FISHES. 



553 



MOTELLA, or Eock Ling, and Silver Gade, M. argenteola ; and other 

 genera of less importance. 



The head of the Cod (Morrhua callarias) is compressed ; the eyes 

 placed on the side, close to each other, and veiled by a transparent 

 membrane, a conformation which, according to Lacepede, enables the 

 animal to swim on the surface of the water in northern regions in 

 the midst of mountains of ice and under banks covered with snow, 

 without being dazzled by the brilliant light ; but this opinion is un- 

 supported by any other naturalist of note. 



Fig. 375. Ike Cod-fisu (Alorrhua callarias). 



The jaws of the cod-fish are unequal, and among the rows of teeth 

 with which it is armed many are mobile, and can be hidden in their 

 cavities, or raised, according to the will of the animal The dorsal 

 fins, three in number, are in clusters, as in Fig. 375 ; anal fins are 

 two ; pectoral fins narrow, and terminating in a point ; caudal fin 

 slightly forked. Its colour is of an ashy grey, spotted with yellow on 

 the back ; white and sometimes reddish beneath. 



The cod-fish is provided with a vast stomach, and is very voracious, 

 feeding on fishes, crabs, and molluscs. It is so gluttonous and indis- 

 criminating, that it will even swallow pieces of wood and other similar 

 objects. This is essentially a sea-fish : it is never seen in fresh-water 



