690 



ME. PEANCIS DAT OK THE 



arched very suddenly over the pectoral fins. Length, about 

 20 inches ; depth, 8 inches. It corresponded very closely with the 

 figure and description of this variety given in the second edition of 

 Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 229." 



Dr. J. Alexander Smith (Proc. Eoy. Phys. Soc. Edinb. vol. iii. 

 p. 302, 1864-05) gave descriptions of some deformed, hump-backed 

 cod which he referred to Gadiis (IforrTma) pimctatus, Turton, and 

 the Lord-fisli " of Yurrell, lie mentions tliatMr. Bargh stated 

 these fish were uot uncommon at this particular season of the 

 year, and that in a take of six or seven dozens of cod from the 

 long lines baited with the lug-w^orm, and laid on the north side of 

 the Firth of Forth, six or seven of this variety were taken. 



Dr. Dyce (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1860, v. p. 366), after expres- 

 sing his doubts about Turton's Gadus (3IorrJiua) punctatus, con- 

 tinues : — " While Yarrell, besides transcribing the descriptions 

 of these authors, . . states that a fresh example was brought 

 him, caught at the mouth of the Thames, which the fishermen 

 called * Lord-fish,' and considered to be an accidental deformity. 

 Thus, though each has suspected its existence, there has been no 

 attempt made at removing the doubt." He concludes that, having 

 obtained numerous examj^les, he was in possession of facts sufficient 

 to set these doubts at rest — that, in short, the " Lord-fish " is a 

 Common Cod unnaturally shortened, due to spinal disease, sufl!er- 

 ing from a species of rickets. 



Thus Dr. Dyce, after liaving demonstrated the fact that the 

 cod-fish and some members of the cod family suffer from a disease 

 which occasions a shortening of tl\c length of the spinal column, 

 came to the conclusion that such deformed examples were identical 

 with Yarrell's "Lord-fish" and the Gadus {MorrJiua) punctatus, 

 Turton, stated to have a large head and the lateral line nearer the 

 back than in the " common cod," curved as far as the middle of the 

 second dorsal fin, growing broader and whiter towards its posterior 

 end, and a considerably longer lower jaw : he does not allude to 

 the upper jaw. 



The formula of the fin-rays is as follows : — ■ 



Gadus punctatus, Turton. D. 14 | 20 | IS. A. 19 | 16. 



Lord-fish, Yarrell. D. 14 | 19 | 18. A. 17 | 11. 



Gadus macroceplialus (Tiles.), Kncr & Steind. D. 14 | 17 | 

 18-19. A. 20-21 I 22 ? 



Present example. D. 11 | 14 | 16. A. 16 | 11. 



If we examine Yarrell's figure of his " Lord-fish," it does not 



