MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OP NEW-YORK. 371 



is some diversity in these particulars. The rays in the fins are Br. 7. 

 V. U. D. 15— J 9— 23. P. 21. A. 20—19. 

 * * * Codfishes with two dorsal fins. 



7. Hake. (Gadus merluccius.) With double rows of sharp teeth ; 

 broad and scaly lateral line ; beardless chin, and even tail. 



The specimen before me is about fifteen inches long ; two deep ; and 

 five in girth. Caught with the other cod. The head is rather long ; 

 and the body is slender, and tapers away to the tail. The colour of 

 the back is a pale brown ; of the belly a dirty white. No cirrhus to 

 the chin. The mouth is wide and capacious. The lower jaw is longer 

 than the upper ; and both are armed with acute and hooked teeth, in 

 a two rowed and formidable array. The back part of the tongue, the 

 palate, and the throat, are also patched with teeth. The palate, throat, 

 and lining of the gill-covers, are dark coloured. Grooves and channels 

 on the top of the head. The eyes are very large, with a yellow iris and 

 brown circumference. There are two dorsal fins, the foremost of which 

 consists of twelve rays, and the hindmost of thirty-eight. The gill mem- 

 brane has seven rays ; the pectoral fin thirteen ; the ventral seven ; the 

 anal forty-one ; and the caudal twenty-seven. 



The lateral line runs nearly straight from the upper part of the gill- 

 opening, to the middle of the tail, and is furrowed in such a manner as 

 to give it a broad and double appearance. The scales are deciduous 

 from the back ; more adhesive to the belly ; and frequently stick to the 

 line. There are five or six small warts in a row along the line not far 

 from the gill opening. The ventral fins are shorter than the pectoral, 

 and both are pointed. The vent is nearer the head. The extremity 

 of the tail is even ; and the gill cover is rather peaked behind. 



8. Slender Cod. (Gadus tenuis.) With bearded chin, streaked throat, 

 convex tail, and bifid ventral fins. 



