246 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



and is even said to know how to bring about this desired event, by stirring the 

 water with his foot through a crevice. The Greenlanders take it in a similar way 

 with their hands, having learnt the art, according to Fabricius, from the fox. 



The species attains the length of fourteen inches. The colour of the back is soiled or livid 

 white, the sides are minutely spotted with black, and the under parts are pure white. There 

 is a short barbel under the chin. 



Fins.— .Br. 6; D 13—15—23; P. 19; V. 6 ; A. 17—20; C. 32. Fauna Grcenl. 



[96.] 4. Gadus ogac. The Ogak. 



Gadus barhatus. Fabricius, Faun. Green/., p. 146. 



Ogak, or Owak. {The young ogarak, or ovvarak, pi. ogarkaet, or owarkset.) Greenlanders. 



This is a larger species than the TT r hiting-pout of the English seas, to which 

 Fabricius refers it, and it wants the black spot at the base of the pectorals : a new 

 specific appellation is therefore as much required as in the case of the preceding 

 species. As the Esquimaux of the peninsula of Boothia call the rock-codling (p. 

 324), which they take near Cape Isabella, by the same name which the Green- 

 landers apply to this, viz., owak, or ownk, it is probable that they nearly resemble 

 each other, if they are not specifically the same. 



The ogak is described by Fabricius as rarely exceeding eighteen inches in length and five 

 in depth, and as corresponding with the description given by Artedi (sp. 65), except in want- 

 ing the dark spots at the base of the pectorals. It lives among sea-weeds in deep, shady 

 places, in company with the Cottus Grnenlandlcus, where it feeds upon capelin, blenmes, 

 iaunces, and other small fish, as well as upon crustaceae. It spawns among the sea-weeds in 

 February or March, while the ice is as yet entire, and in June multitudes of its young, no 

 bigger than sticklebacks, may be seen along the shore. In its habits this fish resembles the 

 gadus callarias, but it keeps nearer the bottom, and the male and female are said to consort 

 with each other under the same stone. 



Fins.— Br. 7; D. 15—19—16,- P. 18; V.6; A.22—17; C.32*. Faun. Gr., p. 147. 



* The following rays are attributed to the gadus barhatus by Artedi. Fins.— Br. 7 or 8 ; D. 13— 24— 20 or 21 ; P. 19 ; 

 V. 6 ; A. 31—21. 



