MK. TEA^XCIS DAT ON MOERUUA MACROCEPHALA. G89 



On the Occurrence of Morrliua macrocepliala* at the Mouth of 

 the Thames. By Teancis Day, F.L.S. 



[Read April 17, 1879.] 



(Plate XIV.) 



In the month of January this year I obtained, through the kind- 

 ness of Mr. Carrington, Naturalist to the Royal Westminster 

 Aquarium, an example of a large-headed Cod-fisl], which had been 

 captured at Southend, at the mouth of the Thames, but had died 

 during its transit between there and London. A second example, 

 stated to have been exactly similar, was taken along with the one 

 alluded to, but unfortunately was not preserved. I believe this 

 to be a species distinct from the Common Cod, Morrhaa vulgaris, 

 perhaps identical with Yarrell's "Lord-fish," likewise captured 

 at the mouth of the Thames, while it certainly agrees with the 

 description and figure of Gadus macrocephalits (Mom. Acad. 

 Sc. St. Petersb. ii. 1810, p. 350, t.xvi.), in most particulars, a species 

 Swainson ('Fishes,' ii. p. 300,1839) termed CepJius macroceplialus. 



Yarrell (1836) gave a woodcut of the example which he ob- 

 tained but omitted to preserve ; and a comparison of his drawing 

 with the figure appended to this paper will show tliat the propor- 

 tions of the two specimens were very similar. Yarrell, however, 

 mentions that by the fishermen it was considered to be only an ac- 

 cidental deformity, some injury to the spine having prevented the 

 usual growth. There is reason to believe that the Speckled Cod 

 of Dr. Turton, represented in his ' British Fauna ' as frequently 

 taken in the weirs at Swansea, is only the young of the Common 

 Cod. The fishermen, according to Yarrell, however, appear to 

 have been divided in opinion, as some said it was a fish which they 

 met with occasionally, and believed it distinct from any other. 



Dr. Cobbold (Proc. Eoyal Physical Soc. Edinb. 1854-58, i. p. 51), 

 in a paper on the " Lord-fish" of Yarrell, stated that the example 

 h^ possessed "consisted of a remarjvable shortening of the bod}^, 

 arising from the coalescence of a great number of the vertebra) 

 immediately succeeding the bones of the head. In the present 

 example 21 were united together, and the shorteningthus produced 

 had given to the animal a curiously grotesque appearance. The 

 middle dorsal fin was shortened, and the lateral longitudinal line 



* In the ' Zoological Kecord' for 1870, p. 95, this fisli is erroneously referred 

 to a3 Gadus macrophthahnus. 



LINX. JOURN. — ZOOLOGY, YOL. XIY, 52 



