GEX. MOURUUA. THE POUT. 189 



certain terminations in o and ow into ie, the fish- 

 wives of Newhaven and the neighbourhood invari- 

 ably call these fish Haddies. 



(Sp. 150.) M. lusca. Bib, Pout, WhitiDg Pout, 

 or Brassy. This species may be distinguished from 

 all the other Morrhuas by the uncommon depth of 

 body compared to its length, and by the length of 

 the base of the first anal fin which commences in a 

 line with, or rather in advance of, the insertion of 

 the first dorsal. M. lusca and M. barbata have 

 been described by most of our older Naturalists as 

 distinct ; Bloch was the first to bring them together, 

 in which he was followed by Mr. Jenyns ; and this 

 view may be said to be proved to be correct by the 

 recent observations of Mr. Yarrell. This author 

 considers that the various provincial names of Kleg 

 (Scarborough), Blens and Blinds (Devon and Corn- 

 wall), Smeltie (Zetland), have all reference to this 

 species, and that the appellation of Pout, Bib, and 

 Blens (the latter meaning a blister, as it appears in 

 the word chilblains), have been suggested by the 

 singular power possessed by this fish of inflating, 

 like a bladder, a membrane which covers the eyes 

 and neighbouring region of the head. This fish is 

 in great esteem for its flesh, and it is sold in the 

 London markets under the name of Whiting Pout. * 

 It is common all along the southern coasts of Eng- 

 land ; and, although not abundant elsewhere, is yet 



* Few fishes have been so favoured with a diversity of names 

 as this. At St. Ives, according to Pennant, it is called Lug, a 

 Leaf ; and at Pcuxauce, Jfathock, i. e? Large Eyes. 



