WOLF-FISH. 279 



and Mr. Low have borne their testimony to the excellence 

 of its flesh, and Mr. Donovan states that it is delicious. 

 It may be observed here, that this is the general character 

 of the flesh of those fishes that feed on crustaceous animals. 

 It is eaten by the Norwegians and Greenlanders, as well 

 as by most of the inhabitants of the northern parts of 

 Europe, the head and skin being first taken off. The skin 

 is converted into very durable bags and pockets. 



The food of the Wolf-fish consists of crustaceous and 

 testaceous animals, which its powerful jaws and rounded mo- 

 lar teeth enable it to break down sufficiently for its purpose. 

 The vignette at the bottom of the preceding page, being a 

 representation of the jaw-bones and teeth of a Wolf-fish, 

 shows the formidable nature of the weapons with which it is 

 furnished ; while its German and Danish names have re- 

 ference to a supposed power of crushing even stones in 

 its mouth. It swims rapidly, with a lateral undulating 

 motion ; and has acquired the name of Sea-wolf from its 

 voracity. It is called Swine-fish in the Orkneys, from a 

 particular motion of the nose. It approaches the shore 

 to deposit its spawn in the months of May or June ; and 

 the young, of a green colour, are occasionally found among 

 sea- weed. 



The numbers of the fin-rays are 



D. 74 ; P. 20 : A. 46 : C. 16. 



The head is slightly flattened on the top ; the nose 

 rounded and blunt, nostrils small ; eyes near the end of 

 the nose, irides pale yellow; mouth large; lips fleshy; 

 the form and arrangement of the teeth are shown in the 

 vignette ; mucous pores abundant about the eye, the gill- 

 cover, and lower jaw on each side. Body elongated, com- 

 pressed towards the tail ; the dorsal fin extends from the 

 nape of the neck almost to the tail, but is not joined to 



