Merlangus. fishes. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. 195 
Gen. XLIV. MERLANGUS. Three dorsal and two anal fins. 
91. M. vulgaris. Whiting. — Upper jaw longest; a black 
spot at the base of the pectorals ; lateral line nearly straight, 
white. 
Asellus mollis, Merr. Pin. 184. Sibh. Scot. 23. Will. Ich. 170, — Ga- 
dus Merlangus, Linn. Sjst. i. 438. Penn. Brit. iii. 190. — Common. 
Length about a foot. Above pale brown ; belly and sides silvery ; the lat- 
ter streaked with yellow. Teeth of the upper jaw long. 1st D. 15, 2d D. 18, 
3d D. 20, P. 19, V. 6, 1st A. 34, 2d A. 20. The whiting is caught chiefly in 
the spring and summer months, and esteemed the most delicate food of any of 
the family to which it belongs. 
92. M. Pollachius. Pollack. — Lower jaw longest. Lateral 
line incur vated, black. 
Asellus mollis nigricans, Merr. Pin. 184.— A. Huitingo Pollachius, Will. 
Ich. 167 — Gadus Pol. Linn. Syst. i. 439. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 188. — 
Whiting PoUach, Leets ; A, Lythe. — Common on the rocky coasts. 
Length about 18 inches. Above dusky-green ; sides with yellowish streaks ; 
belly white. Body sloping from the first dorsal fin. 1st D. 12, 2d D, 19, 3d 
D. l6, P. 18, V. 6, 1st V. 28, 2d A. 17. Tail nearly even at the end. Eyes 
large ; irides of a bronze colour. Peritoneum silvery, with a few black spots, 
— This fish is frolicksome, and easily caught with a white fly. 
^ 93. M. Carhonarius. Coal-fish. — Lower jaw longest. La- 
teral line straight, white. 
Asellus niger, Merr. Pin. 184. Sibb. Scot. 23. Will. Ich. 168. — Gadus 
car. Linn. Syst. i. 438.— ii, Scarborough Parr, Billets ; Bawlin Pol- 
lack — 5', Podley, Sillock, Cuddy, Glassock, Cooth, Piltock, Colmey, 
Sethe, Sey, Grey Lord Common on rocky coasts and in tideways. 
Length from 2 to 3 feet. Above, including the tail, black ; belly, ventral, 
and anal fins, white. Head small. 1st D. 14, 2d D. 20, 3d D. 22, P. 18, V. 
6, 1st A. 22, 2d A. 19. The tail is broad and forked — The young of this fish 
swarm on many parts of the coast, and contribute, in a very great degree, to 
the sustenance of the population of the Northern and AV^estern Islands. The 
full grown fish are likewise taken abundantly, especially in tideways, but are 
reckoned greatly inferior to the cod and ling. 
94. M. Virens . — Jaws equal; lateral line straight. 
Gadus V. Linn. Syst. i. 438. Penn. Brit. Zool. app. vol. i — Not uncom- 
mon. 
This species, which was inserted in the British Fauna by Pennant, on the 
authority of Sir John Cullum, Bart, is less than a foot. The back and fins 
green ; the belly silvery ; the fins with numerous black dots. Teeth in the 
upper jaw numerous, strong. 1st D. 15, 2d D. 24, 3d D. 19, P. 22, V. 6, 
1st A. 27 , 2d A. 22.— It is frequently taken in the Frith of Forth, during 
summer. 
Gen. XLV. MERLUCIUS. Hake. — Two dorsal and one 
anal fin. 
X 95 . M. vulgaris. Common Hake. — The first dorsal fin tri- 
angular ; tail even. 
Asellus fuscus, Merr. Pin. 185.— A. primus. Will. Ich. 174. — Gadus Mer. 
Linn. Syst. i. 439. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 191.— On the southern coast 
of England and Ireland ; rare in Scotland. 
N 2 
