184 THE HABBOCK. 



Of the fame genus, but inferior in fize, are the pouts, 

 blinds, and poors. The latter is the fmalleft of the cod 

 kind yet difcovered ; and it is the only one found in the 

 Mediten-anean. It is taken near Marfeillesy and in fuch 

 quantities as fometimes to prove a nuifance. It feldotn 

 exceeds fix inches in length, and is unfit either for being 

 dried or faked ; if the firft is attempted, it grows as hard 

 as an horn*. The whiting is the moil delicate and 

 "wholefome food of any of this genus : It appears in vaft 

 Ihoals on our coafi:s in fpring, and is caught with the linCj 

 from one to three miles from the land. 



TlIjc Coal-Fijh \, 



All the fpecies of the cod, which we have mentioned, 

 are difi:inguilhed by a barb under the lower jaw ; in the 

 coal fifti this is wanting. It is of a dark cerulean blue, 

 and has from that circumftance obtained its EngliJJj name. 

 The eyes are large and protuberant, and the upper jaw, 

 which in the common cod projecls beyond the lower, in 

 this fpecies is the fhortelt of the two J. 



The coal fifh frequent the rocky and deep coafts all 

 round this ifland, but are found in greateft plenty in the 

 vicinity of the Orkney s^ where their fry conftitute a 



great 



* Belon de pifcibus, p. 1 20. 



•}• Colfifcli Anglorum, Qefii. Cadus Carbonarius, Lin. Syft. 



fj, WUl. p. 168. 



