Class IV. HADOCK COD FISH. 245 



body is long, and rather more slender than that 

 of the common codfish ; the head slopes down 

 to the nose ; the space behind the hind part of 

 the first dorsal fin is ridged ; on the chin is a 

 short beard. On the back are three fins re- 

 sembling those of the common codfish ; on each 

 side beyond the gills is a large black spot. Su- 

 perstition assigns this mark to the impression St. 

 Peter left with his finger and thumb when he 

 took the tribute out of the mouth of a fish of 

 this species, which has been continued to the 

 whole race of hadocks ever since that miracle. 

 The lateral line is black ; the tail is forked. The 

 color of the upper part of this species is dusky 

 or brown ; the belly and lower part of the sides 

 silvery; the irides silvery ; the pupil large and 

 black. 



