GOO MR. FB.ANCIS DAY ON THE 



arched very suddenly over the pectoral fins. Length, about 

 20 inches ; depth, 8 iuclies. It corresponded very closely with the 

 figure and description of this variety given in the second edition of 

 Tarrell's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 229." 



Pr. J. Alexander Smith (Proc. Eoy. Phys. Soc. Edinb. vol. iii. 

 p. 302, 1864-G5) gave descriptions of some deformed, hump-backed 

 cod which he referred to Gaclus {Morrhua) punctatus, Turton, and 

 the " Lord-fish " of Yarrell. lie mentions tliat Mr. Bargh stated 

 these fish were not uncommon at this particular season of the 

 year, and that in a take of six or seven dozens of cod from the 

 long lines baited with the lug-worm, and laid on the north side of 

 the Firth of Forth, six or seven of this variety were taken. 



Dr. Dyce (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1860, v. p. 366), after expres- 

 sing his doubts about Turton' s Gadus {Morrhua) puhctaius, con- 

 tinues : — " While Yarrell, besides transcribing the descriptions 

 of these authors, . . states that a fresh example was brought 

 him, caught at the mouth of the Thames, which the fishermen 

 called ' Lord-fish,' and considered to be an accidental deformity. 

 Thus, though each has suspected its existence, there has been no 

 attempt made at removing the doubt." He concludes that, having 

 obtained numerous examples, he was in possession of facts sufficient 

 to set these doubts at rest — that, in short, the " Lord-fish " is a 

 Common Cod unnaturally shortened, due to spinal disease, suffer- 

 ing from a species of rickets. 



Thus Dr. Dyce, after having demonstrated the fact that the 

 cod-fish and some members of the cod family suff'er from a disease 

 ■which occasions a shortening of the length of the spinal column, 

 came to the conclusion that such deformed examples were identical 

 with Tarrell's "Lord-fish" and the Gadus {Morrliua) punctatus, 

 Turton, stated to have a large head and the lateral line nearer the 

 back than in the " common cod," curved as far as the middle of the 

 second dorsal fin, growing broader and whiter towards its posterior 

 end, and a considerably longer lower jaw: he does not allude to 

 the upper jaw. 



The formula of the fin-rays is as follows : — 



Gadus punetatus, Turton. D. 14 | 20 ] 18. A. 19 | 16. 



Lord-fisli, Yarrell. D. 14 | 19 | 18. A. 17 1 11. 



Gadus macro cephalus (Tiles.), Kner & Steind. D. 14 | 17 | 

 18-19. A. 20-21 I 22 ? 



Present example. D. 11 ] 14 | 16. A. 16 | 11. ' 



If we examine Yarrell's figure of his " Lord-fish," it does not 



