THE GREEN COD. 349 



Merlangus virens.* — The Green Cod. 



Specific Characters. — Jaws of equal length ; caudal fin deeply 

 forked. 



Description. — From a specimen ten inches in length. Head about 

 one-fourth of the whole length, caudal included ; depth of the body 

 rather less than the length of the head. Colour of the back and sides 

 of a light glossy green; the belly silvery -white; dorsal, caudal, and 

 anal fins, dusky green, minutely freckled with dark spots ; ventrals 

 pure white ; sides irregularly marked with a number of small dark 

 blue spots. First dorsal fin of a triangular form commencing in a 

 line over the middle of the pectorals ; the fourth ray the longest, 

 equalling the length of the base of the fin, the remaining rays rapid- 

 ly decreasing, the last very short; second dorsal commencing a 

 little behind the termination of the first, the fourth ray the longest, 

 the rest gradually decreasing, the last very short, scarce perceptible, 

 the sixth about one-third the length of the base of the fin ; third dor- 

 sal arising at a short interval behind the last, leaving a space between 

 its termination and the caudal fin, the fourth ray the longest, about 

 half the length of the base of the fin, the rest gradually decreasing, 

 the last very small; caudal deeply forked, the middle ray about half 

 the length of the longest ray of the same fin ; ventrals small, about 

 half the length of the pectorals ; third ray of the pectorals the longest, 

 equalling the length of the base of the third dorsal fin ; anal fin com- 

 mencing under the last rays of the first dorsal, and terminating rather 

 behind the last ray of the second dorsal; seventh ray the longest, about 

 one-third the length of the base of the fin, the remaining rays gra- 

 dually decreasing, the last very small ; second anal corresponding 

 with the third dorsal. Teeth small and sharp in both jaws, and a 

 few on the vomer ; jaws of equal length ; maxillary extending back 

 to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit ; eyes moderate ; bran- 

 chial rays seven. Scales of the body small, deciduous, and finely 

 striated, having somewhat of a granular appearance ; caudal fin 

 covered with minute scales of an elongated form ; lateral line straight 

 throughout its course. Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 12 ; 2d D. 20 ; 3d D. 19 ; P. 15 ; V. 6 ; 1st A. 27; 2d A. 

 19 ; C. 38. 



The Green Cod very much resembles in appearance the 

 young of the coalfish, and has frequently been confounded 

 with it. It is, however, of a much lighter green on the 



* Merlangus virens, Y"an\, Jen., Flem. Gadns virens, Linn., Penn. 



