292 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Color. Reddish brown, with shght metaUic reflections on the cheeks, and a dark patch 

 beneath the orbits. Abdomen hghter, mixed with grey, and a faint pinkish or orange hue along 

 the base of the anal. Irides silvery, tinged with yellow. Anal bluish white, darkly margined 

 along its tip with brownish. This has suggested to a writer of no authority, the name of 

 marginatus. Dorsals dark brown. A faint crescent-shaped mark on the caudal fin. 



Length, 12-0. 



Fin rays, D. 10.52; P. 17; V. 2 ; A. 50; C. 18 f. 



This species appears to feed chiefly on the smaller Crustacea, as in several which I opened, 

 the stomachs were filled with nothing else. It is very abundant at some seasons. Our markets 

 are usually supplied with them from the coast east of Cape Cod, but fhey also occur in our 

 waters. It is most abundant in the early part of the autumn, and varies in weight from three 

 to thirty pounds. It is called indiscriminately Hake and Codling by our fishermen ; but as 

 the name of Hake is already applied to another genus {Merlucius), it seems preferable, in 

 order to avoid confusion, to make use of the other name. I found them equally palatable 

 with the common cod. 



The geographic range of this species appears to be from the coa^t of New- York north- 

 wardly. 



THE SPOTTED CODLING. 



Phycis ponctatus. 



PLATE XLVI. FIG. 149. 



The Spotted Cod, Gadus punctatus. Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 372, pi. 1, fig. 5. 

 The Spotted Phycis, G. (Phycis) punctatus. Richardson, Faun. Bor. Am. Vol. 3, p. 253, figure. 



Characteristics. Lateral line alternately black and white. A black spot on the first dorsal. 

 , Caudal emarginate. Length ten inches. 



Description. Body cylindrical, subfusiform. Head small. Scales soft, and very deciduous. 

 Lateral line nearly straight, black ; with alternate white dashes a quarter of an inch long, 

 occurring at spaces half an inch apart. Barbel under the chin, small. The jaws, palate and 

 throat armed with minute sharp teeth ; lower jaw shortest. Ventral fins bifid, and its longest 

 ray two inches in length. 



Color. Back and sides pale brown or whitish, with lines between the scales ; neck and 

 belly dull white, with suffusions of cream color. The first dorsal marked above with a black 

 spot, surmounted by the white tips of the rays. In some individuals, an imperfect whitish 

 straight fillet under the lateral line. Anal fin brownish, edged with blackish. 



Length, 10" 0. Depth, 3-0. 



Fin rays, D. 9 or 10.47; P. 13; V. 1; A. 47; C. 23. 



