SPECKLED COD. 



165 



tinct punctures on the lower jaw, in its small scales, and in 

 the first dorsal fin not ending in a long fibre ; and from G. 

 callarius in not being spotted with brown, and in having 

 the lateral line white." 



No other record of this fish has appeared that I am aware. 



Some years since, I obtained from a fisherman at the 

 mouth of the Thames a fresh-caught example of a species of 

 morrhua, with the middle dorsal and the first anal fins short ; 

 the body as deep for its length as the luscus ; the length of 

 the head compared to the whole length of the fish as one to 

 three. Among the fishermen it was by some considered to 

 be an accidental deformity, with injury of the spine, and 

 their name for it was Lord-fish ; others said it was a fish 

 which they met with occasionally, and believed it distinct 

 from any other. A coloured drawing was made at the time, 

 but the fish was not preserved. The fin-rays were as stated ; 

 and it will be observed, on comparing the numbers, that they 

 do not differ very widely from those of the Common Cod. 



D. 14. 19. 18. : P. 14 : V. 6 : A. 17. 11. : C. 24. 



The figure below is taken from the drawing referred to, 

 but carefully reduced : upper part of the head, back, and 

 fins, mottled with two shades of brown ; the sides of the 

 body lighter ; the belly white ; the lateral line white, arching 

 high over the pectoral fins : the irides reddish orange 



