226 PISCES. 



scalesj all the fins are soft; the jaws and front of the vomer armed with 

 pointed, unequal, moderate or small teeth, disposed in several rows, and 

 resembling- a card or rasp; the bran chise are large and have seven rays. 

 Most of the genus have two or three fins on the back, and a distinct cau- 

 dal. The stomach forms a strong and large sac. The natatory bladder is 

 large, strong, and frequently dentated on the sides. 



The greater number of these fishes inhabit cold or temperate seas, and 

 constitute the object of important fisheries. Their white flesh, easily sep- 

 arated in layers, is generally esteemed as light, wholesome, and sapid. 

 They are subdivided into several subgenera. In Morrhua, we have 



Gadus morrhua, L. (The Cod. ) From two to three feet long; back 

 spotted with yellowish and brown; it inhabits the whole Northern Ocean, 

 and multiplies so excessively in north latitudes, that whole fleets are annu- 

 ally dispatched to capture it. 



Gadus scglefinus, L. (The Haddock.) The back brown, belly silvery, 

 and lateral line black; a blackish spot behind the pectoral; quite as numer- 

 ous in northern latitudes as the Cod, but not so much esteemed. 



In the subgenera of Gadus we find the Whiting, Hake, Ling, &c. 



FAMILY II. 



PLANI. 



Tlie second family of the Malacopterygii Subrachiati, commonly 

 called Flat-Jishes, comprises the great genus 



Plettronectes, Lin.(l) 

 These fishes present a character, which, with respect to vertebrated ani- 

 mals, is perfectly unique: it is the total want of symmetry in the head, where 

 both eyes are en one side, which always remains uppermost when the ani- 

 mal is swimming, and which, is always deeply coloured, while that on which 

 the eyes are wanting is always whitish. The remainder of the body, 

 although, generally speaking, formed as usual, participates a little in this 

 irregularity. Thus the two sides of the mouth are not equal, and the two 

 pectorals are rarely so. Their body is strongly compressed and vertically 

 elevated; the dorsal extends along the whole back; the anal occupies the 

 under part of the body, and almost seems to be continued forwards by the 

 ventrals, which are frequently united with it. There are six rays in the 



(1) Pleuronedes, a name formed by Artedi from Trxtupu. the flank, and vhk- 

 T«f a swimmer, because they swim on the side. The ancients gave them dif- 

 ferent names according to the species, such as Passer, Hhombua, Bu- 

 glossa, Stc. 



