COD. 255 



these organs is very remarkable. The fish is not one gifted with swift motion, and there- 

 fore cannot take its prey by pursuit ; instead of this, it usually conceals itself in the mud 

 at the bottom, or perhaps among the stalks of floating weeds, while it agitates its curious 

 fleshy baits. Their resemblance to worms and their motion attract other fishes, which, 

 coming within reach, are seized by the capacious mouth of the concealed frog-fish and 

 swallowed at a gulp. 



FIG. 270. THE ANGLER. 



SU.B-BRACHIAL SOFT-FIX NED FISHES. ORDER 

 MALACOPTERYGII SUB-BRACHIATI.* 



This Order is distinguished by the situation of the ventral fins, 

 which are placed beneath the pectorals. 



It contains four families, namely, the Gadoids (Cod- Fishes), 

 Pleuronectes (Flat Fishes], the Discoboli (Lumpsiickers), and 

 the Echeneides or Remorse. 



The Gadoids have the ventral fins sharpened to a point and 

 attached beneath the throat : they are covered with soft small 

 scales ; most of them live in cold or temperate seas ; and they 

 afford mankind an abundance of good and wholesome food. To 

 this family belong the Cod, the Haddock, the Whiting, the Coal- 

 Fish, the Pollack, the Hake, the Ling, and other species which, 

 although little known with us, are valuable in other countries for 

 their flesh, forming an important article of diet both in the fresh 

 state and when salted and dried. Many of the members of this 

 family are remarkable for the number of their fins: thus it will 

 be seen on referring to our engraving (Fig. 271), that the Cod has 

 no fewer than ten three dorsals, two pectorals, two ventrals, two 

 anals, and the caudal. In some species, however, the dorsals are 

 united into a single lengthened fin, as also are the anals. Most 

 of them have short fleshy beards or tentacles depending from the 



*Sub, beneath', brachium, the arm. 



