08 
nORSK. 
spirits; now, from the heat of the weather it is spoiled by 
decomposition.” 
Since the date of this letter 1 have been informed of an 
example which was obtained in St. Austle Bay, on the south- 
east const of Cornwall; and two specimens have been caught 
by fishermen of Polperro, from which our figure and description, 
with additional notes, have been taken. Added to these, Air. 
Thompson, of Weymouth, informs me that in the months of 
October and November, 1855, four example.s were caught at 
one time, and ten at another, in trawl-vessels belonging to that 
port.' They were of a golden yellow colour, and of small 
size, not exceeding three or four inches in length. Of this 
size indeed colour may not afford a decided mark of distinction, 
but the form of this fish is so different from that of the 
Common Cod, that no mistake needs to be committed in con- 
founding one with the other. 
The example selected for description was twenty inches in 
length. Compared with the Cod the snout projects considerably 
more, pointed, bent down, cavernous; flatter than the Cod 
backward from the snout and between the eyes; under jaw 
much shorter; the eye large, brilliant, even with the top of 
the head. Behind the head on the back a deep chink, almost 
like that on the nape of the Rockling, but without a ciliated 
membrane, as in that fish. Body like that of a Cod for 
Tladdock) lateral line conspicuous bent down at half its length. 
Most of the fins more expanded than in the Cod; the third 
dorsal and second anal running near the tail, and liable to fold 
down; tail round; the fin rays stouter in proportion than in 
the Cod. The colour much varied, the groirnd-colour yellowish 
or orange, with mottlings; back rich light brown; fins reddish 
yellow, mottled; some green tints on the sides; belly pale white; 
but all the colours disposed to fade. Barb at the lower jaw 
prominent. Fin rays, — of the first dorsal fourteen, second and 
third dorsal each with seventeen rays, pectoral eighteen, ventral 
six, first anal nineteen, second anal seventeen, caudal thirty-four. 
In its stomach was a crab, ( Zantho florida.J Schonfelt is 
quoted as saying that when kept in a pond the Dorse devoured 
the smaller fishes. 
The other example was taken in the company of Haddocks 
in March, as the former had been in December; its colour a 
