be a mistake; these, however, are not placed in the manner of those of the other fish, but are included in a common covering, or scarf-skin; neither do they, like others, fold over one another, but are placed close together, as nearly as possible, without folding. Let any man take a bit of eel's skin, and wipe the slime clean off, or, if dry, moisten it in a little warm water, and place it before a good microscope, when he will soon be convinced of this fish having scales, and these being placed in the manner foresaid. The structure of the scale too differs from those of all other fish I know; but the de-. scription of this rather belongs to the writer on micrography than systematic ichthyology. I shall close this account of the eel, by observing, that it is very seldom eaten in the Ork neys. Species 2.-The Conger. The Conger or Conger-Eel, Wil. Icth. 3. Raii Syn. Pisc. 37. Muræna Conger, Lin. Ss. 420. Brit. Zool. 115. Sib. Scot. 23. THE Conger is found very frequent in the sea round these isles; some are caught at the fishermen's lines, but the otter is by far the most successful in killing congers. He brings them ashore, and eats but a very small part, leaving the rest for the next comer; and where his haunts are known, the country people are very careful every morning to search for the remains of the night, and are seldom disappointed, but find cod, ling sometimes, but especially congers, which are oftener seen amongst the deep hollows of the rocks than farther to sea. They are never caught in such a quantity as would be worth while to cure, or send to a market; and if they were, our people have no method of curing them. The largest conger I ever saw here measured about six feet, but probably there may be larger ones caught; Mr Pennant records some that were got on the coast of England ten feet and a half long, and eighteen inches in circumference in the thickest part. GENUS X.-THE WOLF-FISH. Gen. Char-Bluut head; long body; one dorsal fin, reaching almost from head to tail: fore-teeth conic, and larger; grinders flat and round. Species 1.-The Sea-Wolf. Cat-Fish, Sib. Scot. III. 25, tab. 16. Wolf-Fish, Sea-Wolf or Woof, Wil. Icth. 130. Raii Syn. Pisc. 40. Anarhichas Lupus, Lin. Sys. 420. Brit. Zool. 119, tab. 7, vol. 3. Orc. Swine-Fish. THIS very dreadful and ugly fish is often caught in our seas, and sometimes thrown ashore in storms. None of our fishermen love it, either hating the colour or the great teeth, of which it can make good use, even when out of its own ele ment. The mouth of this fish is furnished with the most dreadful weapons of any in our seas; the jaws with broad and strong grinders; the fore-teeth long, conical, and sharp; the roof of the mouth is not without its share of armour, and has many flat teeth in it, all excellently fitted for bruising the hardest food. The fish is excellent eating; however, none are very fond of it, and generally reject it. The Orkney name, Swine-fish, is taken from a sort of muscular motion in the nostrils of this fish, which our fishermen say resembles that in the nose of swine. GENUS XI. THE LAUNCE. Gen. Char.-Head slender; body long and square; upper lip doubled in; dorsal fin and anal reaching almost to the tail; seven branchiostegous rays. Species 1.-The Launce. Ammodytes Gesneri, Wil. Icth. 113. Sand-Eels or Launces, Raii Syn. Pisc. 38, 165. Ammodytes Tobianus, Lin. Sys. 430. Sib. Scot. 24. Orc. SandEel. Brit. Zool. 123, tab. 8. THIS beautiful fish is to be found in vast quantities, at particular times of the year, in the heaps of sand thrown up by the tide, and in some places is taken up by a common corn hook; but here, though they are very frequent, are very little sought after, which is the more surprising, as no fish makes a better bait for the larger fishes, and besides is excellent eating. This fish is most excellently shaped for its way of life; the head small, and muzzle sharp, to pierce through the sand easily; the body square and slender, so that there may be no obstruction from it; in a word, the whole shape is fitted to make way very quickly through the sand, to save itself from its many enemies, for few fish that take a bait but may be caught at a hook baited with sand-cel or herring. The colours of this fish are very bright; the back in some blue, in others green; the sides and belly of silver white; the skin so thin that the partings of the fish may be seen through it; the side line visible and straight. This fish makes a very fine dish, and when in roe, this taken out and fried is excellent. It seems sensible of its own excellency, and the many enemies it has to fear, for if at any time it comes up out of the sand, it immediately, as if conscious of danger, hastes to bury itself again. Porpoises, cod-fish, mackerel, and many others, are continually hunting after it while the tide is up, or in the deeper waters; and the seabirds are very careful watchers of it while the tide is low. We have another silver-coloured eel, found very frequent among the ware at low-water mark; but as the shape differs from the former, I rather imagine it may be the young of the common eel, as they are never seen of this colour above two or three inches long, and of the thickness of a crow quill, almost quite transparent, the back-bone, heart, and other bowels distinctly seen. This makes an excellent object in the microscope, for viewing the circulation of the blood. 2. Jugular.-The Ventral Fins before the Pectoral. GENUS XII.-COD-FISH KIND. Gen. Char.-Head smooth; seven slender branchiostegous rays; body oblong; scales deciduous; all the fins covered with a common skin; ventral fins slender and ending in a point; teeth in the jaws, and in the palate a series of very minute teeth, closely set together. * With three dorsal fins; the chin bearded. Species 1.-The Common Cod-Fish. Asellus major vulgaris, Wil. Icth. 165. 53. Gadus Morhua, Lin. Sys. 486. ling. Cod-Fish or Keeling, Raii Syn. Pisc. THE Cod-fish is so well known as to need no description; is found in swarms on the banks all round these coasts, but very little sought after. Of old this was not the case. In Walls, in Birsa, in Græmsey, and many other places, men and boats were stationed, who made it their constant employment to catch fish for curing and sale; merchants from the south |