Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/263

Rh 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 proportion to the thickness. The head is naked, but the body is covered with small scales, which, however, are in general nearly concealed by a thick mucous skin, which also invests the fins, and gives them a peculiarly fleshy texture. The eyes are large; the mouth wide, furnished on the jaws and front of the vomer with small unequal teeth, set in rows like those of a card; the gill-openings are large, and there are seven gill rays.

The fins present some peculiarities; their thickened 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 sometimes 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, according 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 cæcal appendages.

The flesh of these fishes is generally white, firm,