826 PROFESSOR W. C. M'JNTOSH AND MR E. E. PRINCE ON 



cod, and by the greater length and diminished depth of the first anal fin. The pigment- 

 specks are still present in the median ventral line of the abdomen. These characters are 

 better marked at 18 mm., the black pigment-lines at the bases of the anal fin-rays being 

 especially characteristic when contrasted with the young cod, in which a median line of 

 black pigment proceeds from the centre of the tail forward to a point above the middle 

 of the first anal. No barbel is present, and the myotomes are more closely arranged than 

 in the cod. 



At the length of 20 mm. the first anal of the young fish assumes the adult characters, 

 and a small papilla now indicates a barbel. The pigment along the dorsal edges is much 

 more developed than along the ventral. The general and minute flecks of black pigment 

 are very characteristic at 24 mm., and the barbel has increased in size. The denser 

 dorsal pigment, moreover, has spread downward over the sides, but in the preparations is 

 uniform ; and no dappled condition was noticed when fresh. 



Between the foregoing and a length of 28 mm., a decided change takes place in the 

 region of the pigment last mentioned, viz., a tendency to form separate touches along 

 the dorsum, somewhat after the manner of those in the cod. These dark touches are con- 

 fined to the dorsal region, though in some a few bars occur at the base of the tail. The 

 fish is now minutely flecked with black pigment all over the sides, head, snout, and fins, 

 a few large corpuscles appearing in the dorsal and the hyoidean regions — the silvery sides 

 and under surface of the abdomen alone being free from them. In general outline it 

 approaches the adult. The shortness of the snout readily separates it from the cod — 

 without reference to the first anal fin. A slight duskiness exists above the base of the 

 pectoral, but no definite spot. The tips of the ventrals reach fully to the vent. The row 

 of pigment-spots usually disappears from the median ventral line at the length of 30 mm. 

 The barbel is small but distinct at this stage. 



The young whiting at 34 mm. presents the following features when contrasted with 

 a cod of the same length (in spirit). Externally parasitic Caligi are generally more 

 abundant in the cod. The median dorsal fin is less abruptly elevated than in the cod, 

 and the first anals diverge widely. The body of the whiting is more neatly rounded and 

 more plump than that of the cod, which often has a protuberant abdomen. This outline 

 in the whiting is probably due to its earlier maturity. Though a smaller fish it issues 

 from an egg somewhat larger than that of the cod. The pigment-specks closely cover 

 the sides of the body of the whiting and the membranous webs of the dorsal fins. The same 

 pigment is continued forward on the head. The pigment at the bases of the caudal rays 

 is more distinct in the whiting, and the lancet-like caudal termination of the body is 

 longer in this species. Moreover, the myotomes are coarser in the cod, and the surface 

 has little of the dappled silvery sheen of the whiting, apparently from the somewhat 

 more advanced condition of the scales in the latter. The finely stellate black pigment- 

 corpuscles are larger in the cod, and instead of the general specks of the whiting, they 

 are grouped in blotches over the surface, with intermediate pale regions, and the head 

 and neck are much less covered with pigment. Both pectoral and ventral fins of the 



