74 MARINE AND FRESHWATER FISHES 



young Lobsters and Star-fish. The largest recorded example 

 of the Common Cod, captured on our coasts, would appear 

 to be the fish weighing seventy-eight pounds, and measuring 

 five feet eight inches, taken at Scarborough in the year 

 1755, and said, on Pennant's authority, to have been sold 

 for the modest sum of one shilling. The Haddock {Gadus 

 ceglefiims), No. 101 ; the Whiting Pout, Rock Whiting, or 

 Bib {G. luscus), No. 102 ; the Silver Whiting (G. merlangus), 

 No. 104 ; the Green Pollock, Coal-fish or Saithe (G. virens), 

 No. 106; the Common Pollock (G. pollachius), No. 107; 

 the Hake (Merlucius vulgaris), No. 108 ; and the Ling 

 {Molva vulgaris), No. no, are all familiar examples of the 

 Cod family of high economic value. In addition to these 

 there are several forms which are not sufficiently abundant, 

 or do not attain to a sufficient size, to be of commercial 

 importance. The Power-Cod {Gadus minutus), No. 103 ; 

 and the various species of Rocklings (Motella musteld), No. 

 112 ; {31. cimbrid), No. 113 ; {M. tricirrhatd), No. 114; and 

 (M. macroplithalmd), No. 11=5, belong to this series, as also 

 do the Lesser Fork-head or Tadpole-fish {Raniceps raninus), 

 No. 116 ; and the Greater Fork-beard or Torsk (Brosmius 

 brosmi), No. 117. The most interesting form of all, 

 however, to the zoologist is, perhaps, the Burbolt, or Eel- 

 pout {Lota vulgaris), No. in, this fish being the only 

 indigenous member of the Cod family that is restricted 

 to fresh water. It is a nocturnal species, growing to 

 a length of two or three feet, much addicted to hiding 

 itself within holes and crannies on the river banks 

 during the daytime, and sallying out in search of food 

 at night. In contour it very much resembles the Ling 

 {Molva), it being one of those elongated, Eel-shaped forms, 

 in which the hinder dorsal and anal fins extend 

 throughout the greater length of the body. An anticipa- 



