138 Mr NeilFs Account of a Rare Fish 



and so firmly fixed that it required some force to detach them. 

 All the scales were set on obliquely to the axis of the body of 

 the fish ; but this obliquity was particularly remarkable in the 

 large body-scales. 



The body, while still covered with the scales, was in general 

 of a lead colour, somewhat darker above the lateral line ; the 

 head, however, was of a fine silvery hue. 



Fins. — The first dorsal fin was situate in a distinct sulcus or 

 groove, within which the animal had evidently possessed the 

 power of retracting this fin at pleasure. The length of this fin 

 was about 10 inches ; but as it had dried in its retracted state, 

 it was impossible to count the rays. — The second or longest dor- 

 sal fin arose immediately behind the first, and was also placed 

 in a kind of groove ; but this groove was shallow, and its mar- 

 gins were less distinct, being compressed and covered with small 

 scales. The length of this fin was 1 foot 10^ inches ; and 26 

 rays could be numbered. — The pectoral fins were each 9 inches 

 in length, with 14 or 15 rays. The ventral fin was 7 inches, 

 with 6 rays ; and the anal fin also 7 inches, with 9 rays. — The 

 caudal fin consisted of 16 branched rays, with the central scaly 

 ray, already mentioned as the termination of the lateral line. 

 The breadth of this organ, at the broadest part, and when not 

 stretched, was 9 inches. In form it was nearly rectangular, or 

 only very slightly rounded at the extremity, and on the upper 

 and under edges. 



2. Having communicated to Mr Strong some queries relative 

 to the capture of the fish, — the appearance of the scales and fins 

 when it was alive or newly dead, — the contents of the stomach, 

 — the structure of the sound or swimming-bladder, &c. — he 

 obligingly transmitted them to Mr Laurence Sinclair, his cor- 

 respondent in the islands ; and the following particulars I ex- 

 tract from a letter from that gentleman, dated North Roe, 2d 

 April 1821 : — " Answers to Mr NeilFs inquiries respecting" the 

 Zetland fish. — The fish was caught off Uyea, on the north-west 

 coast of Northmavine, in November 1819- It was first seen 

 from the land at Uyea, in contention with a seal, or rather en- 

 deavouring to escape. Some men went off in a boat, and took it 

 without any difficulty, as it was then so exhausted as scarcely 



