GADID^. — LXXXVIII. 161 



rakers 4. V. as long as head. Head 6^. D. 7^. N. Y. to Texas, 

 scarce. 



Anacanthini. This suborder is distinguished chiefly by the 

 total absence of spines in the fins, and also by the absence of any 

 foramen in the scapular bone. The ventrals are jugular, the 

 scales various. There are 2 or 3 families, the best known being 

 the 



Family LXXXVIII. GADID.^. (The Cod-fishes.) 



Body elongate, ending in an isocercal tail ; scales small, cycloid. 

 Mouth large, the teeth various. No pseudobranchis. Vertical 

 fins separate. D. and A. long ; no fin spines. Gill openings very 

 wide, the membranes free from the isthmus. Gills 4. Air-bladder 

 present. Pyloric cseca numerous. Vertebrae about 50. Genera 

 30, species about 90. Carnivorous fishes, chiefly of the Northern 

 seas, many of them of great economic value. One species in fresh 

 waters. 



o. Chin with a barbel ; frontal bone nonnal ; top of head without excavated 

 area. ( Gadince.) 

 b. First D. composed of a band of fringes, preceded by a single ray; bar- 

 bels 4 ; one on chin, one on each nostril, one on snout ; anal hn single. 



Ehihomemus, 217. 

 hb. First D. of distinct rays. 

 c. Dorsal fins two ; anal fin one. 

 d. Ventrals narrow, filamentous, each of 2 or 3 slender rays. 



Phycis, 218. 

 dd. Ventrals broader, each of about 6 rays; vomer with teeth; no 



canines Lota, 219. 



cc. Dorsal and anal fins each single ; ventrals well-developed. 



Bkosmius, 220. 

 ccc. Dorsal fins three ; anals two. 



«. Lower jaw included; barbel well developed. 

 f. Vent below second dorsal. 



g. Shoulder girdle with its chief bone or coracoid much swollen; 

 (lateral line black ; maxillary not reaching eye) 



Melasogrammcs, 221. 

 gg. Shoulder girdle normal ; (lateral line pale ; maxillary reach- 

 ing past front of e3'e) Gadus, 222. 



ff. Vent in front of second dorsal ; (skull peculiar) 



MiCKOGADUS, 223. 



ee. Lower jaw projecting; barbel minute; teeth of upper jaw sub- 

 equal PoLLACmus, 224. 



00. Chin without trace of barbel ; frontal bone divided ; top of head with a 



large triangular excavated area, bounded by ridges. (Merlucciince.) 



h. Lower jaw projecting; teeth sharp, unequal, the larger ones 



movable; dorsals two; anal single; A. and 2d D. deeply 



notched ; scales loose, silvery. . . Merlucoius, 225. 



11 



