994: FISHES GADID^. 



its depth half its length ; profile rising rapidly from head to base of dorsal, which rnna 

 along a decided ridge or carina; preoperoular spine extremely large, more than, three 

 times as large as in other nf our fresh- water Cottoids, and as long as the eye ; this spine 

 is hooked backwards, and is slightly spiral, giving the fish a decidedly bnffalo-like 

 or cow-like physiognomy ; three spines hooked downwards below the large one, the 

 lower concealed ; a strong spine directed forwards at base of operole ; isthmns as wide 

 as.fromsnont to middle of orbit ; head33-5; depth 54; fin rays: D. VIII, 17; A 12; 

 ventrals 1-4; pectorals 16; branohiostegals C; base of pectorals crescentio, their tips 

 jnst short of anal, the rays all simple ; ventrals under pectorals reaching two- thirds to 

 Vent, their membrane decurrent ; dorsal beginning a trifle beyond ventrals, rather 

 nearer anal than snout ; vent midway between base of caudal and snout ; depth at first 

 ray of anal less than half length of head, the thickness at the same point a little more 

 than one-third ; leasi depth one-fourth of head; caudal peduncle slenderer than in any 

 other Cottoid known to me in our fresh waters; huad smooth; space above lateral line 

 behind head covered with small, stiff prickles, slightly hooked backwards, readily vis- 

 ible as little black specks when the skin is dry ; axillary regioo not provided wiih Spines ; 

 color pale brown, rather tiLely specked and mottled with darker bro»n ; pectorals mot- 

 tled ; belly white. Length of smaller specimen (Nelson's type) '2 r>-6 inches; of 

 larger ?i. 



Habitat, Great Lakes, in deep water; Lake Michigan (Nelson, Rice, Jordan); Lake 

 Ontario (Jordan) Several specimens of this species are mixed with Girard's original 

 types of Triglopsis Ihompsoni, in the United States National IMuieum; near Hudson's Bay 

 (Bean) ; also in Grand River (Cope). Not yet known from Ohio, but probably occuiring 

 in Lake'Erie. 



Diagnosis. — From our other Sculping this species may be known by the 

 prickly back. Specimens poorly preserved lose these prickles, however. 

 The species may then be distioguished by the cow-like physiognomy, 

 due to the great development and curvature of the preoperoular spines. 



FAMILY XXV. GADIBM. THE CODFISHES. 



Body elongate, compressed behind, tapering into the isocercal tail ; scales small, 

 cycloid, covering head and body; lateral lite ooatinuons; moath large, the teeth 

 pointed, variously arranged ; gill openings very wide, the membranes separate or nearly 

 so, free from the isthmus; pseudobranohiai obsolete; bones of head iisnally unarmed; 

 chin usually with a, barbel; fins all-compasid of soft, rays only; dor.4al fin very long, 

 sometimes divided into two or three fins; anal Jong, someiiiues divided; caudal free 

 from dorsal and anal ; vtntrals narrow ; jugular of2 to7rays; pyloric c(Boa numerous ; 

 air-bladder usually present; genera 15; species ubout TO. Pishes mostly of the North- 

 ern seas, many of them reaching a large size. Several of the most imjiortant food fishes, 

 as the Cnd, Haddock, Hake,' Pollock, Cusk, etc , belong to this fimily. A single species 

 is found in fresh waters. 



a. Diirsal fins two, the first well developed; anal fin single; ventral rays six; chin 

 with a barbel Lota, 



