THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 

 Vol. XL] JULY, 1887. [No. J 27. 



FACTS IN THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE POLLACK, 

 QADUS POLLACHIUS. 



By Matthias Dunn.* 



When full-grown. Pollack have very peculiar traits, apparently 

 combining in one species the habits of more than one of the Gadidce, 

 sometimes showing the intense love of locality of the Bib, and at 

 another evincing all the wild and roving disposition of the Hake. 

 Thus for months together in spring and summer Pollack generally 

 live in a uniform hunt-and-rest life, congregating by day around 

 the rocky ledges of the sea-bottom near the deepest water, circling 

 around a certain spot, and often in such numbers as to appear 

 like a living column standing in the sea. At such times these 

 creatures seem to be resting or sleeping (as most fish sleep), 

 probably with one half or more of their senses and functions of 

 the body really at rest. When in this state Pollack will not 

 attack or prey on the smaller fishes unless they come very near 

 or within the circle. 



With the night the scene changes ; then, thoroughly awake, 

 every Pollack leaves the circle, and, hungry and ravenous, each 

 steals away to hunt on his own account. But few living fishes 

 come amiss to their stomachs. With the morning light all return 

 to their old haunts. 



* Communicated to the Polytechnic Society, Falmouth. The names of 

 fish adopted are those employed by Couch. 



ZOOLOGIST. JULY, 1887. U 



