GADID^E. 297 



p. 253 (Ed. 3) i, p. 559 ; Kroyer, Dan. Fiske, ii, p. 123, c. fig. ; Parnell, Wern. 

 Mem. viii, p. 347, and Fish. Firth of Forth, p. 187 ; Jenyns, Manual, p. 446 ; 

 Templeton, Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837 (2) i, p. 411; Johnston, Berwick. Nat. Club, 

 1838, i, p. 173 ; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Ireland, iv, p. 183 ; White, Catal. p. 91 ; 

 Moreau, Poiss. France, iii, p. 241. 



Qadus viridis, Gronov. ed. Gray, p. 133. 



Pollachius litinei, Malm, p. 487. 



Pollack, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, iii, p. 80, pi. cxlii. 



B. vii, D. 11-13/16-20/15-19, P. 19, V. 6, A. 24-31/16-21, C. 31. 



Length of head 3f to 4|, of caudal fin 6^, height of body 4f to 5 in the total 

 length. Eye diameters 4 to 5 in the length of the head, H diameters from the 

 end of the snout, and lj apart. Interorbital space flat : snout conical. Lower 

 jaw prominent, the maxilla extending posteriorly to beneath the anterior edge of 

 the orbit. Barbel absent. Teeth villiform and of equal size in the jaws : in two 

 small patches on the vomer, none on the palatines. Fins the first dorsal 

 commences over the middle of the pectoral, its third ray equalling the length 

 of the base of the fin : a short interspace between it and the base of the second 

 dorsal, and a similar interspace present between the bases of the second and third 

 dorsal fins. The first anal fin commences under the posterior rays of the first 

 dorsal and terminates beneath the end of the second dorsal : second anal similar to 

 the third dorsal. Ventral inserted on the throat a short distance before the pectoral, 

 which last rather exceeds half the length of the head. Caudal square or slightly 

 emarginate at its extremity. Scales distinct over head and body. Lateral-line 

 curves to beneath the commencement of the second dorsal fin from whence it 

 proceeds straight to the centre of the base of the caudal fin. Vent beneath the 

 anterior half of the first dorsal. Air-bladder narrow, largest anteriorly, from its 

 front two prolongations proceed forward, one on either side. The organ is continued 

 through the entire length of the abdominal cavity. On its front wall, in its 

 anterior part, are two elevated and almond-shaped muscular prominences : if the 

 air-bladder is opened, a large dark-coloured glandular body is seen on its anterior 

 wall in its forepart : some large vessels penetrate to it. Colours the back of the 

 fish when captured is of a dark rifle green superiorly, becoming lighter on the 

 sides, where it usually has some golden stripes or spots, and nearly white beneath. 

 Fins dark green, the first dorsal with three oblique bronze-coloured bands, and 

 two longitudinal ones on the second and third, all the fins edged with dark colours, 

 sometimes even black. 



Varieties. Ball observed an example taken in the spring of 1838, in which the 

 rays of the first dorsal fin had grown to more than three times their normal 

 length. Couch remarks on the young occasionally having its sides and abdomen 

 yellow or bright orange, due, it is believed, to their residing in the shelter of ro^i 

 which are covered with ore- weed. 



Names. Pollack: whiting -pollack : leet s (Scarborough) : laits (Whitby) : and 

 in Scotland and some parts of the north of England lythe, perhaps signifying its 

 pliancy and rapidity of movement, laithe, leeat, leet, sheet. Sometimes termed 

 greevling or green-fish. Also termed lythe at Portrush, county of Antrim (Ogilby). 

 The lob alluded to in the Statute of Herrings (31 Ed. Ill, a.d. 1537) as lob, ling, 

 and cod evidently meant this fish, not the Gadus virens as suggested by Couch. 

 The term is from the Danish word lubbe, which signifies the pollack. Be pollak, 

 Dutch. Le merlan jaune on lieu, French. 



Habits. This species is common on many of our rocky coasts all round the 

 country, and usually prefers being not far from land, waiting to dash upon any 

 unwary prey that comes within reach, the largest ones being generally taken in 

 the autumn. Low observed that in the Orkneys it is frequently close in shore 

 among the sea-ware and in deep holes among the rocks. Mr. Dunn has remarked 

 that off Cornwall it frequently sticks to one spot, from which it extends its range, 

 but is not so sure of returning as is the bib, being a strong fish of a more rovino- 

 disposition. Mr. Peach observed a small whiting which had taken refuge within 

 the hollow of a medusa, Cyanea aurita, but was seen by a young pollack about 



