History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

192 FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. Molva,Assellus mollis minor, Will. Ich. 171. J ago, Ray Syn. Pise. 163. Gadusminutus, Linn. Syst.i. 438. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 185. Block, Ich. t.67- Found on the coast of Cornwall by the Reverend Mr Jago.Length about C inches. Back light brown ; belly whitish. Body lengthened.Tail rounded. Lateral line narrow, straight. Anus in the middle ofthe body. 1st D. 12, 2d 19, 3d 17 ; P. 13 ; V. 6 ; 1st A. 27, 2d 17. Approachesthe shore in spring.81. M. —" punctatus. Pale brown, with golden spots; beneathwhite, thickly covered with minute dusky specks ; upperjaw longer."" Speckled Cod, (Gadus punctatus, Turtori's Brit. Fauna, i. 90.) Takenfrequently in the Weirs at Swansea."" Body 18 inches long, slightly arched on the back, a little prominent on thebelly covered, above, with numerous ; gold-yellow roundish spots with ; beneath,dusky specks, which are stellate under a glass. Head large, graduallysloping; teeth small, in several rows in the upper jaw, in the lower a singlerow ;nostrils double ; iris reddish, pupil black ; chin with a single beard ;nape with a deep longitudinal groove. Lateral line nearer the back, curvedas far as the middle second dorsal fin, growing broader and whiter towardsthe end. Upper fins and tail brown, with obscure yellowish spots, and darkertowards the ends ;lower ones tinged with green. Vent near the middleof the body. Scales small, all of them, under a glass, minutely spreckledwith brown ;gill-covers of two pieces. Lower-jaw with 5 obscure punctureson each side. Dorsal fins 14-20, 18 rayed; pectoral 18; ventral 6, the firstray shorter than the second, and divided a littleway down ; anal 19-16; taileven, 36, rayed. Differs from Gadus Morhua (M. vulgaris) in not havingthe first anal ray spinous, and in the lower jaw being considerably longerfrom G. ;luscus in the first ray of the ventral fin being shorter than the second; from G. barbatus in wanting the 7 distinct punctures on the lowerjaw, in its small scales, and in the first dorsal fin not ending in a long fibre ;and from G. Callarias, in not being spotted with brown, and in having thelateral line white."Gen. XXXIX. MOLVA. Ling.— Body lengthened ; headflat ;lateral line straight.The second dorsal and anal finslong, the rays of nearly equal length.82. M. vulgaris. Common Ling.— Upper-jaw longest ; tailwith a dusky bar.rounded ;Asellus varius Molva, Merr. Pin. 184. Sibb. Scot. 23 A. longus, Will.Ich. 175—Gadus Molva, Linn. Syst.i. 439. Penn. Brit. Z00L iii.197 Common.Length from 3 to 4 feet. Above, grey, inclining to olive ; beneath white ;the dorsal and anal fins edged with white. 1st D. 15, 2d 65 ; P. 15 ; V. 6;A. 62. Spawns in spring. When in season as food the liver is white.83. M. Lota. Burbot. — Jaws equal; tail oval, slightlypointed.Mustek, Merr. Pin. 190. Will. Ich. 125.—Gadus Lota, Linn. Syst.i.440. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 199. Don. Brit. Fishes, t. 92 E, Eelpont,Coneyfish, Birdbolt—In slow running rivers, England.Length from 1 to 3 feet. Colour brownish, blotched with olive or yellow.Teeth small. The first dorsal fin is short, with 1 1 rays ; the second extendsalmost to the tail, of 61 rays ; P. 16 ; V. 7 ; A. 50. Spawns in December. Esteemeda delicate fish for the table.