142 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
MOERHUA PROXIMA, Grd. 
Plate XLa, Figs. 5—8. 
Spec. Char. —Snout sub-conical ; thickish ; upper jaw protruding beyond the lower one. Posterior extremity of maxillar 
bone extending to a vertical line which would intersect the pupil. Dorsal and anal fins all distinct from one another. Anterior 
anal longer than the second dorsal Caudal fin posteriorly sub-truncated. Yellowish ash or brown above; sides and belly 
silvery white. 
Syn. — Gadus proximus, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 141 &154. 
Morrhua californica, Ayres, in Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sc. I, 1854, 9. 
We tliink the species allied to Gadus gracilis , Tiles., and described in Pallas , Zoogr. Ross. 
Asiat. Ill, 1831, 186 ; and still more so to G. pygmaeus, Pall. loc. cit. pag. 199. 
This appears to he a rather small species, for, amongst all the specimens brought home by 
several parties, the largest measures but seven and a quarter of an inch. In this respect it 
reminds us of M. pruinosa and M. minuta, of our Xevv England coast. It is especially related 
to the former species, M. pruinosa , the tomcod or frost fish of our fishermen. 
The body is slender, elongated, and compressed, sub-fusiform in profile, rather graceful in 
appearance. The greatest depth is under the anterior dorsal fin, hence the outline tapers grad¬ 
ually towards the insertion of the caudal. 
The head is contained about four times and a half in the total length, or a little over that 
measure. The snout is sub-conical, rather pointed, the upper jaw overlapping considerably the 
lower one, which exhibits under its symphysis the characteristic barbel of the genus. The mouth 
is of moderate development; the posterior extremity of the maxillary extending to a vertical 
line drawn through the middle of the pupil. The eye is above the medium size, sub-circular in 
form, its diameter being contained about four and a half times in the length of the side of the 
head. The nostrils are placed much nearer the orbit than the extremity of the snout. The 
branchial apertures are continuous under the throat, and extend as far anteriorly as the posterior 
rim of the orbit. The branchiostegal rays are six on either side, and rather well developed. 
The three dorsal fins are distinct from one another. The anterior one is sub-triangular, higher 
than long. The second dorsal is longer than high, sub-triangular in shape also, and lower 
than the first. The third dorsal fin is longer than high, resembling the second in shape, being 
only smaller than the latter. The caudal is sub-truncated upon its posterior margin. 
The posterior anal is situated opposite the third dorsal, and similar in general size and outline. 
As to the anterior anal fin, it is longer than its opposite, the second dorsal, and deeper also than 
the latter is high. Its anterior margin corresponds to the posterior ray of the first 
dorsal, and its posterior ray is placed almost opposite the anterior margin of the third dorsal 
fin. The ventrals are slender ; their filiform extremity reaches the vent, which is placed imme¬ 
diately in advance of the first anal fin. The pectorals are rather small and slender ; their pos¬ 
terior extremities extend to a vertical line intersecting the vent. 
Br. VI: VI; D 13, 21, 22 ; A 26, 21; 0 5, 1, 16, 16, 1, 5; V 6 ; P 17. 
The rays, as a general thing, are bifurcated or subdivided. The scales are small, sub-elliptical 
in shape, exhibiting radiating furrows upon their entire periphery. The focus of irradiation is 
eccentrical towards the anterior extremity of the scale. 
The color above is yellowish ash or yellowish brown, with an occasional reddish hue. The 
