544 FISHES. 



Lota. — Body elongate, covered with very small scales. A 

 separate caudal, two dorsal fins, and one anal ; ventrals narrow, 

 composed of six rays. Villiform teeth in the jaws and on the 

 vomer ; none on the palatines. The first dorsal with from ten 

 to thirteen well-developed rays. Chin with a barbel. 



The " Burbot," or " Eel-pout '' (Z. vulgaris, Fig. 8, p. 43), 

 is a Freshwater-fish which never enters salt water. It is 

 locally distributed in Central and Northern Europe and 

 North America ; it is one of the best Freshwater-fishes, and 

 exceeds a length of three feet. 



MoLVA. — Differs from Lota in having several large teeth in 

 the lower jaw and on the vomer. 



The " Ling " {M. vulgaris) is a very valuable species, 

 common on the northern coasts of Europe, Iceland, and 

 Greenland ; and generally found from three to four feet long. 

 The larger number of the specimens caught are cured and 

 dried. 



MoTELLA. — Body elongate, covered with minute scales. A 

 separate caudal. Two dorsal fins, the anterior of which is 

 reduced to a narrow rayed fringe, more or less concealed in a 

 longitudinal groove ; the first ray is prolonged. One anal fin. 

 Ventrals composed of from five to seven rays. A band of teeth 

 in the jaws and on the vomer. 



Eight species of '' Eocldings " are known from the 

 coasts of Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Japan, the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and New Zealand. They are of small size, and 

 chiefly distinguished by the number of their barbels. British 

 are the Five-bearded Eockling {M. mustela), the Three-bearded 

 EockHngs {M. tricirrhata, macropUhalma, and maculata), and 

 the Four-bearded Eockling {M. cinibria). M. macrophthalma 

 comes from a depth of from 80 to 180 fathoms. The youn" 

 are known as " Mackerel Midge " (Couchia), and sometimes 

 met with in large numbers at some distance from the coast. 



Raniceps. — Head large, broad, and depressed ; body of 

 moderate length, covered with minute scales. A separate caudal. 



