THE CODFISH. 345 



Merlangus carbonarius.* — The Coalfish. 



Specific Characters. — Under jaw longest ; caudal fin deeply forked ; 

 lateral line straight throughout. 



Description. — From a specimen a foot in length. Head one-fourth 

 the length of the body, caudal fin excluded ; depth rather less than 

 the length of the head. Colour of the back and sides dark grey ; 

 belly dirty white ; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins dusky and minutely 

 freckled ; ventrals white. First dorsal fin of a triangular form, com- 

 mencing a little behind the base of the pectorals; third and fourth 

 rays the longest, equalling the base of the fin ; the first ray spinous, 

 about half the length of the second ; the last very short. Second dor- 

 sal commencing at a short interval from the termination of the first ; 

 third and fourth rays the longest, about half as long as the base of the 

 fin ; the rest gradually decreasing in height ; the first ray simple, about 

 half the length of the second ; the remainder soft and flexible. Third 

 dorsal commencing at a short distance from the last, and leaving a 

 wide space between its termination and the short caudal rays ; the 

 fifth ray the longest ; the rest gradually decreasing in height ; the 

 last about half as long as the fourth ; the ninth about one-third the 

 length of the base of the fin ; caudal deeply forked, the middle ray 

 not half the length of the longest ray of the same fin. Pectorals 

 pointed, the fourth and fifth rays the longest, more than equalling 

 the length of the first dorsal fin ; ventrals small, placed in advance of 

 the base of the pectorals. First anal fin commencing in a line under 

 the interval between the two first dorsals, and terminating rather be- 

 hind the last ray of the second dorsal ; the fifth ray the longest, about 

 one-third the length of the base of the fin ; the remainder gradually 

 decreasing in height ; second anal corresponding with the third dor- 

 sal, but terminating rather nearer to the caudal. Teeth small and 

 fine, one or two rows placed in the lower jaw and three or four rows 

 in the upper jaw, and a few along the vomer ; under jaw the longest ; 

 maxillary extending back to beneath the anterior margin of the or- 

 bit. Lateral line commencing at the upper part of the operculum 

 and taking a straight course to the base of the tail ; scales small and 

 adherent, those covering the caudal fin very minute and of an elon- 

 gated form. Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 12; 2dD, 18; 3dD. 20; 1st A. 24: 2d A. 22; P. 19; V. 6 ; 

 C. 32. 



* Merlangus carbonarius, Yarr., Jen., Cuv., Flem. Gadus carbonarius. 

 Linn., Pern;., Don. Coalfish, Seithe. Si/fock, Grey-Lord, Rlack-Pollack. 

 Rnuning Pol/nek, Cornwall. 



