GADlD^l. BROTULIN.E. 323 



termined, is a northern fish, seldom reaching to the 

 length of three feet and a half. 



(271.) The Brotulinee, or eel cods, will terminate 

 the series. In Brosma we have been prepared, by the 

 close approximation of the dorsal and anal to the caudal 

 fin, for that union of all three which takes place in the 

 group before us. This is precisely the structure com- 

 mon to the true eels ; and thus we have a perfect re- 

 presentation of the apodal order in the circle of the 

 Gadida. No British example of this type exists. The 

 only two genera that can certainly be placed in this group 

 are Brotula Cuv. and Pteridium Scopoli. Of the first, 

 only one species is obscurely known ; it has six barbels, 

 and is found on the coast of Cuba. Pteridium Scop., on 

 the other hand, is a Mediterranean genus ; and although 

 so long established, both by Scopoli, and subsequently 

 (under the name Oligopus) by Lacepede, it is altogether 

 omitted in the Regne Animal. Risso describes and figures 

 one species (P. niger), which perfectly resembles, in its 

 general aspect, the genus Ophidium, except in having no 

 cirri under the chin, and in possessing small, slender 

 ventral fins, composed of a single ray.* It will subse- 

 quently be shown, when we come to treat of the genus 

 Ophidium, that this is the precise point of union be- 

 tween the two great orders of osseous fishes, or that 

 which forms the passage from the Malacopteryges to 

 the Acanthopteryges. The silvery Ophidium of the Me- 

 diterranean, in fact, has so strong a resemblance to the 

 present family, that it may almost be termed a Gadus 

 without ventrals : it grows to as large a size as some of 

 the Phyces, and has just the same formed head, mouth, 

 and teeth ; the same silvery body, minute scales, and 

 fleshy fins ; they live in the same situations ; and they 

 are so alike in taste, — the flesh of both being the same 

 as that of the haddock, — that they cannot be distin- 

 guished when cooked. Cuvier brings into this family 

 the remarkable genus Macrourus of Bloch, which 

 agrees with Pteridium so far as to have the caudal fin 



* Ichthyologie de Nice, p. 142. pi. 11. fig. 41. 

 Y 2 



