506 3MSHES. 



thick aud prominent ; the head is of moderate size, and the eyes 

 large ; the jaws of equal length, the lower one bearded at the tip 

 by a single cirrus ; in the jaws and palate are numerous sharp 

 teeth ; the dorsal and anal fins are rather large, the pectoral rather 

 small ; the ventral small and slender ; the tail of moderate size, 

 and even at the end, the first ray on each side being short, strong, 

 and bony. The usual colour of this fish is cinereous on the back 

 and sides, and commonly spotted with dull yellow ; the belly white 

 or silvery ; but the colours occasionally vary very considerably, 

 and instances are often seen in which a yellow, orange, or even red 

 tint prevails on the upper parts of the body, while the spots are 

 lighter or deeper according to the different seasons in which the 

 fish is taken ; the lateral line, which is one of the principal dis- 

 tinctive marks of the species, is broad and whitish, and the scales 

 are somewhat larger than in the other genus. 



The food of the cod is either small fish, worms, testaceous or 

 crustaceous animals, such as crabs, large whelks, &c. its digestion 

 is so powerful as to dissolve the greatest part of the shells it swal. 

 lows : it is very voracious, catching at any small body it perceives 

 moved by the water, even stones and pebbles, which are often 

 found in the stomach. The fishermen are well acquainted with the 

 use of the air bladder or sound of this fish, and dexterously per- 

 forate the living fish with a needle, in order to let out the air con- 

 tained in that part ; for without this operation the fish could not be 

 kept under water in the well-boats, and brought fresh to market. 

 The sounds when salted, are reckoned a delicacy, and are often 

 brought in this state from Newfoundland; 1 A species of isinglass 

 is also prepared from this part of the fish by the natives of Iceland. 



[Shaw. Pennant. 



SECTION V. 



MackreL 

 Scomber scomber. Lin v. 



This beautiful fish is a native of the European and American 

 seas ; generally appearing at stated seasons, and swarming, in vast 

 shoals, round particular coasts. Its great resort however seems to 

 be within the Arctic circle, where it resides in innumerable troops, 



