History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Meklangus. FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. 195Gen. XLI V. MERLANGUS. Three dorsal and two anal fins.91. M. vulgaris. Whiting.— Upper jaw longest; a blackspot at the base of the pectorals ; lateral line nearly straight,white.Asellus mollis, Merr. Pin. 184. Sibb. Scot. 23. Will. Ich. 170 GadusMerlangus, Linn. Sjst.i. 438. Penn. Brit. iii. 190 Common.Length about a foot. Above pale brown ;belly and sides silvery ; the latterstreaked with vellow. 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 inthe spring and summer months, and esteemed the most delicate food of any ofthe family to which it belongs.92. M. Pollachius. Pollack.— Lower jaw longest. Lateralline incurvated, black.Asellus mollis nigricans, Merr. Pin. 184.— A. Huitingo Pollachius, Will.Ich. 167—Gadus Pol. Linn. Syst.i. 439. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 188.—E, Whiting Pollach, Leets ; S, Lythe. — Common on the rocky coasts.Length about 18 inches. Above dusky-green sides with ; yellowish streaks ;belly white. Bodv sloping from the first dorsal fin. 1st D. 12, 2d D. 19, 3dD. 16, P. 18, V. 6^ 1st V. 28, 2d A. 17- Tail nearly even at the end. Eyeslarge 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. Carbonarius. Coal-fish.— Lower jaw longest. Lateralline straight,white.Asellus niger, Merr. Pin. 184. Sibb. Scot. 23. Will. Ich. 168 Gaduscar. Linn. Syst.i. 438.— E, Scarborough Parr, Billets ; Rawlin Pollack—S, 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 fishswarm on many parts of the coast, and contribute, in a very great degree, tothe sustenance of the population of the Northern and Western Islands. Thefull grown fish are likewise taken abundantly, especially in tideways, but arereckoned greatly inferior to the cod and ling.94. M. v'irens.— Jaws equal; lateral line straight.Gadus v. Linn. Syst.i. 438. Penn. Brit. Zool. app. vol. i Not uncommon.This species, which was inserted in the British Fauna by Pennant, onjheauthority of Sir John Cullum, Bart, is less than a foot. The back and finsgreen ; the belly silvery ; the fins with numerous black dots. Teeth in theupper 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, duringsummer.Gen. XLV. MERLUCIUS.anal fin.Hake.—Two dorsal and one95. M. vulgaris. Common Hake.— The first dorsal fin triangulartail 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 coastof England and Ireland ; rare in Scotland.N 2