COD 
COL- 
tianVII. of Denmark to fifli in thofefeas; though 
flie afterwards repented of her requeft, and in- 
ftrufted her ambaifadors at that court to infift on 
the privilege of a free and univerfal fifhery. 
Providence has gracioufly ordained, that this 
moft beneficial fifh to mankind, fhould be lb ex- 
tremely prolific as to fupply more than the defici- 
encies of the multitudes annually taken. T^ewen- 
hoek counted nine million three hundred and 
eighty-four thoufand eggs in a Cod-fifh of a mid- 
dling fize. They begin to fpawn in our feas in 
the month of January, and depofit their eggs in 
rough ground, among rocks and fhelves. 
Cod-fifli of a middling fize are moft efteemed 
for the table; and they are to be chofen by their 
plumpnefs or roundnefs, elpecially near their 
tails ; and by the regular undulated appearance of 
their fides, as if they were ribbed. Thefe, and 
other fifli of this genus, are reckoned to be in fea- 
fon during winter; but the glutinous parts about 
their heads lofe much of their delicate flavour af- 
ter having been removed twenty-four hours from 
their native element. The general weight of thofe 
taken on our coafts is from fourteen to forty 
pounds, though they fometimes exceed fixty. 
The Cod- fifli is fhort in proportion to it's bulk ; 
the belly is very large and prominent; the jaws are 
almofl: of an equal length, with a finall beard on the 
lower; the teeth are difpofed in the palate, as well 
as the jaws; and the eyes are large. It has three 
foft fins on the back; the ventral fins are very flen- 
der, and the anal are two in number. It is afli- 
coloured on the back and fldes, and ufually fpotted 
with yellow; the belly is commonly white; though 
the fifh fometimes varies not only in colour, but 
alfo in the conformation of the head and other 
pai-ts; and the flde-line is broad, ftraight, and 
white, till it reaches oppoflte the vent, when it 
curves towards the tail. 
Cod-fifli are cured on fliip-board in the follow- 
ing manner. Their heads are cut off, their bellies 
opened, and their guts taken out; and then they 
are laid flde by fide, head and tail, at the bottom 
of a velTel, for about eight or ten feet fquare. 
One layer being compleated, it is covered with 
fait, and another laid on that, which is covered as 
before. All th^ fifh taken in one day ai'c thus dif- 
pofed of ; but great caution is ufed not to intermix 
thofe which have been caught on different days. 
I'hey remain thus for three or four days, when they 
are removed into another part of the vefTel, and fak- 
ed again; and inthisftate they are fuffered to con- 
tinue till the veflfel has either got her full cargo, or 
till fhe departs for her deftined port. Sometimes, 
however, they are put into barrels, and packed up ; 
and in that cafe they are denominated Barrel-Cod. 
Thefe fifh, hov/ever, are not all cured with fait: 
fome are carried on fliore, and dried on the beach ; 
namely, fuch as are fifhed for along the coafl of 
Placentia in Nev/foundland, fl-om Cape Race to 
the Bay of Experts, within which limits there are 
feveral commodious harbours and places fit for 
drying them. Thofe who intend to dry them in 
the fun always fifla for them during the fummer fea- 
fon. A iinaller fort of thefe fifli is ufually fe- 
kfted for drying; becaufe, as they fboner imbibe 
the fait, they are beft adapted for that purpofe. 
The tripes, roes, and tongues of the Cod-fifli, 
are alfo faked and barrelled ; the latter of which are 
tifually thrown into the fea, in'order to draw other 
fifh to a particular fpot, efpecially pilchards, for 
which they conftitute an excellent lure. An oil 
which is extracted from the Cod is faid to anfvvef 
all the purpofes of train-oil, and is much ufed by 
curriers. 
CODA LANCE A. An appellation given by 
Italian naturalifls to the ipecies of duck called 
by others the anas caudacuta, and vulgarly known 
in fome parts of England by tlie names of the , 
cracker or fea-pheafant. It differs from all other 
birds of the duck kind in the peculiar ftruccure of 
it's tail, which has two feathers longer than the reil, ' 
and terminating in a point. 
CODDY MODDY. A bird of the gull kind 
fometimes called the winter mew. It*s length, 
from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail, 
is eighteen inches ; and the expanfion of it's wings 
is three feet nine inches. The bill, which is two 
inches long, and very flender, is black at the tip, 
and whitifli towards the bafe. The irides are of a 
hazel colour; the crown of the head, and hind-part 
and fides of the neck, are white marked with ob- 
long dufl<y fpots ; the forehead, the throat, the mid- 
dle of the breaft, the belly, and the rump, arev/hite; 
and the back and fcapulars are a pale grey, the laft 
being; alfo fi^otted with brov/n. The coverts of the 
O J. 
wings are a pale brown, edged with white ; the firfb 
quill-feather is black, and the fucceeding one:; are 
tipped with white; the tail is white, and crofied 
near the extremity with a black bar ; and the legs 
are of a dirty blueifli white. 
During winter, this bird frequents thofe moift 
meadows which are fituated in the interior parts of 
England. That gelatinous fubfcance commonly 
known by fhe name of ftar-fhot, or ftar-jelly, is 
generally fuppofed to owe it's origin either to this 
bird, or to fome other of it's kind; and is in fa6t 
nothing elie but the indigcfted remains of earth- 
worms, on which tliefe birds feed, and which they 
frequently evacuate. 
COGNIOL. A name fometimes given to the 
fifli more ufually called colias; a kind of mackerel 
which differs principally from th.e other fpecies in 
being of an inferior fize. 
COINUS. An appellation given by Ibme con- 
chologifts to the genus of flieils called porcellana 
and concha venerea. 
COJUMERO. A term ufed by fome natura- 
lifts to denote the manati or fea-cow. 
COLCUICUILTIC. Th.e American nam.c 
for a bird of the partridge kind defcribed by Nie- 
remberg. It is variegated with black, white, and 
red, and exhibits a very beautiful appearance. 
Tliefe colours are for the moft part not dif[)oied 
in fpots, but in longitudinal lines, on the back; 
on the belly, however, they affume the form of 
fmall fhort lines. The flefli of this bird is highly, 
efteemed. 
COLD-FINCH. A bird of the cenandie kind, 
or nearly approximating to that genus, frequently 
feen near the Peak in Derbyfhire, The belly is 
white ; the breaft is a yellowifli brown ; and the head 
and back are a brownifli or greenifli grey. The 
long feathers of the tail and wings are black, but 
: V/ith fome variegation of white towards their extre- 
' mities ; and the bill is flender, ftraight, and Ibme- 
what ridged. It feeds on v/orms and othcir infefts. 
COLE-FISH. The afellus niger of authors; 
and by Linnaeus ranked as a fpecies of gadus. See 
CoAL-FlSH. 
COLE-MOUSE. A fir.all bird of the tit- 
mioufe kind. See Coal-Mouse. 
COLE-PERCH. The name of a fmall fifn 
caught near Dantzick, and feveral other places; and 
much 
