192 MALACOP. SUB-BRACH. COD FAMILY. 



the other Gadidae, and at the same time lighter and 

 more digestible. It is fortunately a very common 

 fish, occurring so plentifully on most of the coasts of 

 Britain and Ireland, that it is quite unnecessary to 

 mention particular localities. It prefers a sandy 

 bottom, and generally swims in shoals a few miles 

 from the shore. Its principal food is the fry of 

 other fishes, but mollusca, crustaceous, and other 

 marine animals of small size are likewise devoured, 

 and that with little discrimination, as it is extremely 

 voracious. It sheds its spawn in March, and is 

 afterwards out of season till June. It is in highest 

 condition from January to the end of February. It 

 is fished for, however, nearly all the year, being 

 generally taken with lines. Large quantities are 

 salted and dried, but several of the good qualities of 

 the flesh are impaired or lost by this process. The 

 ordinary length is from a foot — the size w^hich is con- 

 sidered best for the table — to sixteen inches, and 

 the weight about a pound and a half. They occur, 

 however, of the weight of four pounds. 



(Sp. 153.) M. albus. Couch's Whiting. This 

 species is found in the Mediterranean, having been 

 described by Risso, but was unknown in this coun- 

 try till 1810, when it was taken by Mr. Couch on 

 the Cornwall coast.* We cannot do better than 

 give that gentleman's description, as published by 

 Mr. Yarrell, in the second volume of his work on 

 fishes. 



* We presume this to be the locality, although the fact is 

 not expressly mentioiaed. 



