GREA T BRIT A IN. \ 29 



bases of the two first dorsal fins. A very short interspace 

 exists between the second and third dorsal fins, and a 

 longer or shorter interspace occurs between its termination 

 and the base of the outermost caudal rays. The anterior 

 anal fin commences on a vertical line below the fourth or 

 fifth ray of the second dorsal, and a short interspace exists 

 between it and the origin of the second anal, which is 

 similar to the third dorsal. Vent situated on a vertical 



e beneath the first rays of the second dorsal fin. Ccscal 

 appendages. Numerous and short. Colours. Greenish or 

 grayish, or olive, and occasionally covered with yellow or 

 brown spots along the back and upper two-thirds of the 

 body, its lower portion pure white. Lateral-line white, 

 especially in its lower half. Fins gray, becoming darkest 

 towards their outer edges. 



Varieties of form. Fishermen distinguish two races : (i) 

 the southern or Dogger-bank cod, having a pointed and 

 somewhat elongated snout, the body being of a dark 

 colour ; and (2) the north or Scotch cod, having a blunter 

 snout, and being of a light ash-gray. The two forms are 

 said to mix off Northumberland. Yarrell, having observed 

 a " lord-fish " (G. macrocephalus), Tiles, at the mouth of 

 the Thames, considered the appearance due to disease. 

 Gurney (Zool., May 1 6th, 1851) remarks upon having seen 

 one of these fish caught at Lowestoft, and called by the 

 local fishermen " a lord," resembling Yarrell's figure. Cob- 

 bold found this shortening of the body, which occasions the 

 comparatively large head, to be due to the coalescence of 

 a great number of the vertebrae immediately succeeding 

 the bones of the head. Gill alludes to a Labrador specimen 

 which possessed two barbels below the chin, placed one 

 behind the other. Of colour. Turton's " speckled cod " 

 ay have been so coloured due to disease as the presence 

 VOL. I. E. I. K 





