1 88 THE LltJG, 



barb about two inches long ; upon the back are two dovm 

 fal fins, the firft confifting of fifteen, and the fecond of 

 fixty-five rays, extending like the anal fin, oppofite near- 

 ly to the tail ; the peftoral fins are each fupportcd by fif- 

 teen cartilaginous rays, and the ventral by fix ; the three 

 firft projecling beyond the connedling membrane, termi- 

 nate like fpines *. 



The ling abounds more or lefs upon the coafls all 

 round the Briti/b ifies ; it is, however, moft frequent 

 near Scilly "fles, and thofe on the weft of Scotland and Ire- 

 land, where it has long formed a confiderable branch of 

 commerce, regulations being framed concerning it fo ear- 

 ly as the reign of Edward Illf. The fifa is in perfec- 

 tion from the beginning of February till May ; in June 

 they depofit their fpawn in \.\i't foft, muddy bottoms near 

 the mouths of rivers ; about this time the males feparate 

 from the females, many of the former being caught by 

 fifhermen, without a fingle individual of the latter. 



When the ling is in feafon, its liver is white, and a- 

 bounds with an oil of an excellent quality and flavour ; 

 but as foon as the fifli becomes out of feafon, the liver 

 gradually aflumes a red colour, refembling that of an ox, 

 and it then produces no oil : The fame change of colour 

 of the liver is cbferveable in cod, and feveral other fifties, 

 but not in a degree fo remarkable. It would feem, that 

 this oil which is lodged iu the cellular membranes of fifties, 

 returns into their blood, and fupports them during the 

 period of procreation; a feafon in which they purfue the 

 vork of generation with fo much cagernefs, that they ne- 

 gled their food. 



As 



^ V/ill p. i;5. t Erit. Zoo). Cbfs iv, -en. I?. 



