142 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



CHAPTER V. 



FISHES WITH SOFT FIN-RAYS, AND THE VENTRAL 

 FINS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE PECTORAL. 



We may now turn to the second division of 

 the malacopterygious order of osseous fishes, 

 termed "3falacopterygii sub-bmchiales" in which 

 the ventral fins are placed immediately below 

 the pectoral, the internal bones sustaining the 

 latter, giving attachment to those supporting 

 the former as a fixed base. 



The family of the cod-fish, (Gadidce,) which 

 first presents itself, includes many species ; 

 among these we may first notice the common 

 cod-fish (^Morrhua vulgaris.^ 



The cod-fish, of which we have mentioned 

 two varieties, namely, the long-nosed, dark, 

 " Doggerbank cod," and the blunt-nosed, yel- 

 lowish, " Scotch cod," is widely spread in the 

 seas of Europe and North America. It does 

 not, however, exist in the Mediterranean. If 



