THE COD FAMILY. 273 



with the hand-net in pools, while larger forms — ranging from 

 the last-mentioned size to 3^ inches — occur a little further 

 from low-water mark in similar regions in September. In the 

 second week of October they are about 4 inches, and readily 

 take a hook baited with mussel. A series of young pollack 

 caught off the west coast of Ireland in July ranged from 1| to 

 3| inches in length. These were larger than those found in 

 the same month on the east coast of Scotland, a difference 

 which is also to be noticed in the case of several other species, 

 and is probably caused by a higher mean temperature in the 

 former district. 



In their earlier stages the young pollack are recognized by 

 the great development of black pigment, the arch of the lateral 

 line and the prominent mandible. 



Mr Cunningham is of opinion that those caught in Plymouth 

 Sound in June and July and from 12 to 15 inches in length 

 are over two years old. If, as he states, the pollack spawns in 

 that neighbourhood in February and March, such would be 

 two years and four or five months old. It is possible, however, 

 that a year might be deducted if the pollack grows at the same 

 rate as its congeners. 



The Norway Pout. (Gadus esmarkii, Nilsson.) 



Mr Holt' took a ripe female off the Aran Islands, west 

 coast of Ireland, on the 8th April, 1891, the diameter of the 

 eggs being '98, the yolk clear, homogeneous and colourless. 



Other eggs in Cleggan Bay in the same region were 

 obtained at the surface, and as they agreed in size and aspect 

 Mr Holt considered them identical. The larva, which emerged 

 from these, measured 2'80 mm. and resembled that of the whiting. 

 The mouth was open, and the caudal fin had embryonic rays. 

 Black chromatophores occurred on the head, formed two rows 

 on each side of the dorsum to a point slightly posterior to 

 median where the two rows coalesced, and fell short of the 

 caudal region. Yellow pigment was diffused over the head, 

 dorsum, and neighbouring part of the somewhat narrow dorsal 

 1 Trans. Roy. Dub. Soc. vol, 5, series 2, p. 54, 1893. 

 M. F. 18 



