Morhua. fishes. MALACOPTERYGIOUS 191 
i 76. M. vulgaris. Common Cod. — The first ray of the anal 
fin spinous. 
Asellus merluccius, itfem Pin. 184 — A major, Sibb. Scot. 23. Will. Ich. 
165 Gadus Morhua, Linn. Syst. i. 436. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 172. 
~.E, Keeling.— Abundant on many parts of the coast. 
Length about 3 feet. Colour grey above, freckled with yellow ; beneath' 
white. The lateral line straight to opposite the vent, when it bends towards* 
the tail, white and broad. The tail is nearly even. 'I'he jaws equal. 1st 
D. 12, 2d 18, 3d 16 ; P. 14; V. 7 ; 1st A. 20, 2d 16 ; C. 36. Spawns in spring; 
— This fish, universally esteemed as an article of food, is eagerly sought after 
on those sea-banks which it frequents. The most extensive fisheries in our 
seas are off the western isles and the coast of Zetland. 
The Morhua callarias or Torsk, first inserted in the British Fauna by 
Berkenhout, syn. i. 67, probably on the authority of a passage in AVillough- 
by, (non ita dudum piscator hujus generis Assellum 4 pedes longum in sinu 
minore ad Ekrefordiam urbem cepit, raro spectaculo.— /cA. p. 172.) does not 
appear to have been noticed in our seas or estuaries by any recent observer. 
■It differs chiefly from the common cod in the lateral line being spotted, and 
the upper jaw being longer. The tail is even, or a little rounded. 
4 77. M. ^glejinus. Haddock. — Upper-jaw longest ; tail 
forked. A spot behind the pectorals, and the lateral line 
black. 
A. Haddock, Merr. Pin. 184. — Asellus Callarias, Sibb. Scot. 23 — Onos, 
Will. Ich. 170 . Gadus seg. Linn. Syst. i. 435. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 
179 . Common on many parts of the coast. 
Length 18 inches. Back dusky ; belly white ; head sloping ; eyes large. 
Fins like the preceding. Sjiawns in spring. Gregarious like the cod, but 
shifting its haunts at uncertain intervals. Superstition assigns the black la- 
teral marks to the impression of St Peter’s thumb and finger, when he took 
the tribute out of the mouth of a fish, supposed to be of this species, and 
which mark has been continued to the race. 
4 78. M. lusca. Bib. — The first ray of the ventral fins pro- 
duced and setaceous. 
Asellus luscus. Will. Ich. 169. Gadus luscus, Linn. Syst. i. 437. Penn. 
Brit. Zool. iii. 184. Not uncommon. 
Length about a foot. Body broad ; sides compressed ; back olive ; belly 
white. Scales large. Tail nearly even. One row of long recurved teeth. 
Eyes covered with a loose membrane. The 1st d. 12, (the second ray longest) 
2d 23, 3d 2 ; p. 16 ; v. 7. This species is the Beb or Blinds of Cornwall, the 
Miller’s Thumb, or Defilion, in Caernarvon, and the Smeltie of Zetland. 
79 . M. harhata. Pout. — Back arched; the first dorsal fin 
triangular, ending in a long fibre. 
Assellus sub mento barbatus, Merr. Pin. 184. A. mollis latus. Lister^ 
WiU. Ich. app. 22. Gadus barbatus, Linn. Syst. i. 437. Penn. Brit. 
Zool. iii. 183. jB, Whiting Pout, Kleg. A rare species. 
Length about a foot. Colour whitish ; a spot behind the pectorals ; the 
fins and tail black. Body remarkably deep ; back carinated ; scales small ; 
tall even. Lateral line white, broad and crooked. Mouth small ; on each 
side of the lower jaw are seven or eight punctures. 
- 80. M. minuta. Poor. — Nine punctures on each side of the 
jaws and gill-covers. Peritoneum black. 
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