GADIDJi;. 297 



p. 253 (Ed. 3) i, p. 559 ; Kroyer, Dan. Fiske, ii, p. 123, c. fig. ; Pamell, Wern. 

 Mem. viii, p. 347, and Pish. Firtli of Forth, p. 187 ; Jenyns, Manual, p. 446 ; 

 Templeton, Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837 (2) i, p. 411; Johnstoa, Berwick. Nat. Club, 

 1838, i, p. 173; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Ireland, iy, p. 183 ; White, Catal. p. 91 ; 

 Moreau, Poiss. France, iii, p. 241. 



Oadus viridis, Gronov. ed. Gray, p. 133. 



Follachius linnei, Malm, p. 487. 



Pollack, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, iii, p. 80, pi. cxlii. 



B. vii, D. 11-13/16-20/16-19, P. 19, V. 6, A. 24-31/16-21, C. 31. 



Length of head 3f to 4|, of caudal fin 6i, height of body 4f to 5 in the total 



length. Tjye — diameters 4 to 5 in the length of the head, 1^ diameters from the 



end of the snout, and 1 j apart. Interorbital space flat : snout conical. Lower 



jaw prominent, the maxilla extending posteriorly to beneath the anterior edge of 



the orbit. Barbel absent. Teeth — villiform and of equal size in the jaws : in two 



small patches on the vomer, none on the palatines. Fins — the first dorsal 



commences over the middle of the pectoral, its third ray equalling the length 



of the base of the fin : a short interspace between it and the base of the second 



dorsal, and a similar interspace present between the bases of the second and third 



dorsal fins. The first anal fin commences under the posterior rays of the first 



dorsal and terminates beneath the end of the second dorsal : second anal similar to 



the third dorsal. Ventral inserted on the throat a short distance before the pectoral, 



■which last rather exceeds half the length of the head. Caudal square or slightly 



emarginate at its extremity. Scales — distinct over head and body. Lateral-line — 



curves to beneath the commencement of the second dorsal fin from whence it 



proceeds straight to the centre of the base of the caudal fin. Vent beneath the 



anterior half of the first dorsal. Air-bladder — narrow, largest anteriorly, from its 



front two prolongations proceed forward, one on either side. The organ is continued 



through the entire length of the abdominal cavity. On its front wall, in its 



anterior part, are two elevated and almond-shaped muscular prominences : if the 



air-bladder is opened, a large dark-coloured glandular body is seen on its anterior 



■wall in its forepart : some large vessels penetrate to it. Colours — the back of the 



fish when captured is of a dark rifle green superiorly, becoming lighter on the 



sides, where it usually has some golden stripes or spots, and nearly white beneath. 



Fins dark green, the first dorsal with three oblique bronze-coloured bands, and 



two longitudinal ones on the second and third, all the fins edged with dark colours, 



sometimes even black. 



Varieties. — Ball observed an example taken in the spring of 1838, in ■which the 

 rays of the first dorsal fin had grown to more than three times their normal 

 length. Couch remarks on the young occasionally having its sides and abdomen 

 yellow or bright orange, due, it is believed, to their residing in the shelter of rocks 

 -which are covered with ore-weed. 



Names. — Pollack: whiting -pollack : Zeei« (Scarborough) : laits (Whithj): and 

 in Scotland and some parts of the north of England lythe, perhaps signifying its 

 pliancy and rapidity of movement, laithe, leeat, leet, skeet. Sometimes termed 

 greenling or green-fish. Also termed lythe at Portrush, county of Antrim (Ogilby). 

 The lob alluded to in the Statute of Herrings (31 Ed. Ill, a.d. 1637) as lob, ling, 

 and cod evidently meant this fish, not the Gadus virens as suggested by Couch. 

 The term is from the Danish word lubbe, which signifies the pollack. Be pollak, 

 Dutch. Le merlan jaune on lieu, French. 



Habits. — This species is common on many of our rocky coasts all round the 

 country, and usually prefers being not far from land, waiting to dash upon any 

 unwary prey that comes within reach, the largest ones being generally taken in 

 the autumn. Low observed that in the Orkneys it is frequently close in shore 

 among the sea-ware and in deep holes among the rocks. Mr. Dunn has remarked 

 that off Cornwall it frequently sticks to one spot, from which it extends its range, 

 but is not so sure of returning as is the bib, being a strong fish of a more roving 

 disposition. Mr. Peach observed a small whiting which had taken refuge within 

 the hollow of a medusa, Gyanea aurita, but was seen by a young pollack about 



