POLT.AN. 293 



have been sold at three or four shillings the hundred. In 

 the spring and summer they are in abundance in their particular 

 districts of the places they frequent; but the largest numbers 

 are in November and December, at which season they are 

 preparing to spawn, and this function is performed on the 

 hard or rocky bottom of the lake. On the comparison of 

 many examples it has been found that the female exceeds the 

 male in size. 



This fish is strictly an inhabitant of fresh water, and 

 although in some rare instances a few have been taken in 

 rivers, to which they may have wandered, or into which they 

 may have been driven by currents, yet their more usual and 

 natural resort is in the large lakes of Ireland; for the Pollan 

 has not hitherto been found in any other portion of the British 

 Islands, to which, however, it might be introduced with some 

 advantage. Of distant countries we can only venture to suppose 

 that it is a native of Sweden. It is in Lough Neah, among 

 the Irish lakes, that it is met with in the greatest abundance; 

 and yet it is not equally numerous in every part, for Mr. 

 Thompson found it to approach the borders only in certain 

 districts, while in others that seemed equally fitted for it a 

 few only might be seen. It is common also, but in less 

 comparative numbers, in the Loughs Erne, Derg, and Corrib. 



As this fish not only dies immediately on being taken from 

 the water, but also soon loses its best flavour and fitness for 

 the table, there is little doubt it might be salted or potted 

 with advantage; but this does not appear to have been thought 

 of, even when there is a glut of them in the market. They 

 are not usually taken with a bait, although they will sometimes 

 rise to a fly; and small shell-fish, together with Entomostraca, 

 have been found in their stomach. 



This fish has not been known to exceed twelve or thirteen 

 inches in length, and the example selected for description 

 measured nine inches, which is the more usual size. The 

 body moderately lengthened, compressed, the proportions much 

 as in the Herring; the head flattened above and behind the 

 eyes, narrowest and sinking at the nostrils; jaws equal, the 

 upper lip wide across, and sloping down to the mouth; 

 mystache wide and thin; teeth in the jaws few, very slight, 

 not easily discovered, none in the palate; a circuit of fine 



