Prof. M'Intosli on the Bib and Poor- Cod. 349 



cod it comes below the last rays of the first dorsal. The 

 coloration of the bib is of a beautiful bronze during life, with 

 a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. The fins are 

 bluish black, darker at their outer edges. In the poor-cod, on 

 the other hand, the coloration is greenish grey along the 

 back, becoming lighter at the sides, and in some large 

 examples^ Mr. Day adds, a trace of grey occurs at the base of 

 the pectoral fin. 



The main point contended for in my note* was the con- 

 fusion on the subject and the apparent uncertainty of the 

 author of the ' British Fishes.' 



To my former remarks the following may be added : — The 

 coloration of the poor-cod increases with age, and a blackish 

 spot occasionally occurs at the base of the pectoral, as, for 

 instance, in a specimen courteously sent by Mr. Dunn, of 

 Mevagissey, and which he thought might be a hybrid ; more- 

 over, it becomes deeper in the body, so as to resemble the 

 bib. The dull greenish hue along the dorsum laterally is 

 also evident in spirit-preparations. As Mr. Day says, its eye 

 is nearer the tip of the snout ; but he does not mention the 

 cutaneous bleb so characteristic of both species. The number 

 of rays in the first dorsal is stated to be the same in both, viz. 

 12 ; but, as shown in the subsequent tables of those specially 

 examined, the range is from 12 to 15 in the bib and from 12 

 to 14 in the poor-cod, the smallest specimens in both species, 

 moreover, having most rays. The range in the second dorsal 

 is from 22 to 26 in the bib, the larger specimen having most, 

 while in the poor-cod the range is from 21 to 25. Mr. Day 

 gives 19 to 20 in the bib and 19 to 25 in the poor-cod. In 

 the bib the third dorsal shows from 18 to 20 rays, while in 

 the poor-cod the range is from 19 to 22, the latter also occur- 

 ring in the smallest example. In the first anal fin the range 

 in the bib is from 31 to 33, while in the poor-cod it is from 

 26 to 28. The second anal presents from 20 to 21 in the bib 

 and from 19 to 22 in the poor-cod. 



In regard to the characters derived from the gill-rakers, as 

 indicated, by Mr. Day in his recent paper in this journal, it 

 is found that in the bib the left outer gill has from 18 to 20, 

 whereas in the poor-cod the number ranges from 26 to 29. 

 The second gill in the bib has from 14 to 16, in the poor-cod 

 from 18 to 20. The third has from 11 to 15 in the bib, 14 

 to 17 in the poor-cod. The fourth presents from 9 to 12 in 

 the bib, 11 to 14 in the poor- cod. It will thus be noticed 

 that this character is fully as important as any mentioned in 

 the ' British Fishes.' 



* Ann. & Mag, Nat. Hist., May 1886. 



