368 THE ANGLEK-NATUKALIST. 



Erne. The food of the Irish PoUan is very similar to that 

 of the Powan, descrihed in the last notice. 



The female fish attains to a larger growth than the 

 male^ the latter rarely measuring beyond 11 J inches in 

 lengthj whilst the former frequently exceeds 13 inches. 



The PoUan spawns in November and December. 



Its principal characteristics are : — 



Relative length of head to that of body about as 1 to Sj. Depth of 

 body equal to length of head. Jaws equal in length ; both occa- 

 sionally furnished with a few delicate teeth. Teeth numerous on 

 tongue. Lateral line sloping downwards for a short way from gill- 

 cover, and thence passing straight to tail. Nine rows of scales from 

 back-fin to lateral line, and same number thence to ventral fin (row 

 of scales on back and lateral line not included). Third ray of breast- 

 fin longest. Colour to lateral line dark blue, thence to belly silvery ; 

 back-, anal, and taU-fins tinged with black towards extremities ; breast 

 and ventral fins very transparent except at their extremities, which are 

 dotted faintly with black. Vertebrae 59. 



Fin-rays : D. 14 : P. 16 : V. 12 : A. 13 : C. 19. 



