184 
MALACOPTERYGII. 
is perhaps correct, as of general application ; but I have remarked numer- 
ous individuals from 1 to 2 feet in length, taken in company, to be all of 
the same dark greenish-black hue. 
Dr. Drummond describes as a beautiful sight a play of these fish, as 
once witnessed by him near Larne. The whole sea about the boat was 
alive with them playing about in all attitudes, with a rich evening’s sun 
illuminating their sides. They never minded the boat going among them, 
being intent only on their gambols, and were drawn into it in numbers 
with an instrument like a boat-hook. 
Merlangus from Bally waiter, May, 1836. 
A specimen, about 7 inches in length, seems intermediate between 
M. PoUachius and M. Carbonarius, both of which I obtained at same time 
and place, and of similar size to this. 
In the form of the lateral line it is intermediate, taking the form of the 
D. profile, instead of the curve of M. PoUachius, and the straight line of 
M. Carbonarius. 
Jaws equal, but snout projecting a very little beyond lower jaw. 
Tail more forked than in M. PoUachius. 
D. 15, 20, 21 ; A. 25, 20 ; P. 20 ; V. 6 ; C. 36, and many short ; B. 8. 
Colour much the same as in M. Carbonarius ; lateral line whitish. 
The Green Cod, Merlangus virens, Cuv. 
I have often looked for this fish, and have obtained examples agreeing 
with the brief descriptions of British authors, but they were nothing more 
than M. Carbonarius. 
It seems to me that positive characters are wanting by which to dis- 
tinguish the M. virens of British Authors from M. Carbonarius. I speak 
from an examination of numerous examples of fishes in a recent state, 
some of which agreed as well with M. virens (as described) as with 
M. Carbonarius. 
In the Annals Nat. Hist. vol. vi. p. 404, Mr. M‘Coy, in reference to this 
fish, says : — 
“ Merlangus virens . — Rare in Dublin Bay.” 
The Hake, Merlucius vulgaris, Cuv., 
Prevails around the island, but is most common on the southern coast. 
Mr. Yarrell says the hake 
“is so abundant in the Bay of Galway, that, according to a recent writer, this 
Bay is named in some ancient maps, the Bay of Hakes. On that part of the 
Nymph Bank, off the coast of Waterford, this fish is also so plentiful, that 1000 
have been taken by six men with lines in one night.” * 
The late Mr. Nimmo (Boundstone) informed me that this fish is caught 
upon the Galway coast. Commonly in November four or five men in one 
boat will take, with hand-lines, from 600 to 700. Sometimes, but very 
rarely, 1000 are captured, but only when herrings are in the Bay : it feeds 
on them. 
Professor Allman states that hake is chiefly caught on the S.JW. coast 
of Cork with a slice cut out of one of its own species. 
It is so little esteemed in Belfast market that it is not often exposed 
here for sale ; but I have seen examples occasionally in winter, measuring 
about 3 feet 9 inches in length. I have also observed adult fish taken on 
* Br. Fishes, vol. ii. p. 259. The information contained in this extract seems 
to have been obtained from Griffith’s edition of Cuvier and from Pennant. 
