GREA T BRITAIN. 155 



head, I diameter from the end of the snout, and f to 

 I diameter apart. Lower jaw prominent. The maxilla 

 reaches to below the first third of the eye. A rudimentary 

 barbel beneath the chin. Teeth. Cardiform in the jaws, 

 present on the vomer, absent from the palatines and 

 tongue. Fins. The first dorsal triangular ; a distinct 

 interspace between it and the second dorsal fin ; an inter- 

 space between the second and third dorsal fins, the latter 

 lot extending on to the caudal. Anal commences below 

 ic last rays of the first dorsal, and terminates below the 

 id of the second dorsal ; second anal similar to the 

 :ond dorsal. Ventral inserted anterior to the base of 

 ic pectoral. Vent situated on a vertical line beneath the 

 ist rays of the first dorsal fin. Colours. Superiorly gray, 

 >ecoming silvery on the sides and beneath. Fins gray, the 

 dorsal and caudal dark-edged. Usually a black spot at 

 the axis of the pectoral fins, by which it is mostly con- 

 cealed. As they get older the dark colour deepens. 

 Lateral-line white, which at once distinguishes it from the 

 haddock, wherein it is black. 



Varieties. Thompson mentions obtaining a specimen 

 7 inches long, in May, 1836, at Ballywalter, which seemed 

 intermediate between the G. pollachius and G. virens, both 

 of which he obtained at the same time .nd place. Couch 

 remarks on one which had the upper jaw shortened and the 

 body depressed out of the regular straight shape. The 

 vent was much behind its usual position. The fish was 

 thin and ill-fed. 



Habits. Generally gregarious, especially when pursuing 

 herring, to which form of "food they appear very partial. 

 In the Orkneys the fry are first seen in May, when they are 

 taken in large numbers by angling ; but it is in the winter, 

 when the sea begins to get stormy, that the large shoals 





