266 BURBOT COD FISH. Class IV. 



some resemblance to that of an eel, only shorter 

 and thicker, and its motions also resemble those 

 of that fish; it is, besides, very smooth, slippery, 

 and slimy. The head is very ugly, being flat, 

 and shaped like that of a toad; the teeth are 

 very small, but numerous ; the irides yellow ; 

 on the end of the nose are two small beards ; on 

 the chin another ; the number of its branchios- 

 tegous rays are seven. The first dorsal fin is 

 short ; the second is placed immediately behind 

 it, and extends almost to the tail ; the pectoral 

 fins are rounded ; the ventral fins consist of six 

 rays, of which the two first are divided near 

 their ends from each other ; the vent is placed 

 in the middle of the belly, and the anal fin 

 reaches almost to the tail ; the tail is rounded at 

 the end. The color of this species varies; 

 some are dusk}', others of a dirty green, spotted 

 with black, and oftentimes with yellow, and the 

 belly in some is white ; but the real colors are 

 frequently concealed by the slime. 



