CODS. 
m 
The Cods have the body but little compressed, 
generally rounded, sometimes nearly of equal 
thickness, at others thickest towards the head, and 
tapering towards the tail, rather long in propor- 
tion to the thickness. The head is naked, but 
the body is covered with small scales, which, how- 
ever, are in general nearly concealed by a thick 
mucous skin, which also invests the fins, and gives 
them a peculiarly fieshy texture. The eyes are 
large; the mouth wide, furnished on the jaws and 
front of the vomer with small unequal teeth, set 
in row^s like those of a card ; the gill-openings are 
large, and there are seven gill rays. 
The fins present some peculiarities ; their thick- 
ened substance, sometimes almost concealing the 
rays, has been already alluded to ; the ventrals are 
very small, pointed, and often produced into a 
fleshy filament; three of the five rays of which 
each of these fins is usually composed, are some- 
times wanting, leaving only two thread-like rays 
destitute of membrane. On the other hand, the 
dorsal and anal are greatly developed in length ; 
some, as the Cod and Haddock, appear to have 
three dorsals and two anals, but we incline to 
think these reducible to one lengthened fin of 
each kind, variously cleft or interrupted, accord- 
ing to the species. The pectorals and the caudal 
are of moderate size. 
The muzzle and lips are often furnished with 
fleshy beards (cirri), varying in length, yet never 
long, and in number from one to five. The 
stomach is capacious and strong, as is also the air- 
bladder ; the intestine is long, with many cmcal 
appendages. 
The flesh of these fishes is generally white, firm. 
