The lather-Lasher. 1 OF ORKNEY. 207 



got the head and part of the body of the fish swallowed, but 

 being wounded by the spines, I suppose, attempted to bring 

 it up again ; however, this was not practicable, for these being 

 placed the contrary way, hindered its return, and acted the 

 same part as the beard of a hook, in fixing it firmer in the 

 throat of the cormorant, which, after many attempts, and 

 much struggling, was killed by it. When they were taken up, 

 I opened the bird's throat, and measured the fish, which was 

 one foot and half an inch in length ; the spines long, sharp, 

 and strong, bared of the skin, with which they are ordinarily 

 covered, by the struggles of the bird, and the longest fasten- 

 ed in its throat, so that we could not withdraw them till we 

 cut up the belly. 



The shape of this fish is conical ; the head and shoulders 

 very thick, growing smaller to the tail. 'We colour is very 

 diflferent, being in some red, most beautifully marbled with a 

 bright white, and other colours, in well-defined spots; in 

 others the ground colour is dusky, and mottled with white and 

 red ; in some the belly is a fine white, in others a bright yel- 

 low ; the fins are all transparent, but spotted with brown or 

 black. 



The pectoral fins are very large and broad ; the fish erects 

 them when in danger, or when taken ; there are two fins on 

 the back, the first hard rayed, the other soft ; the ventral 

 small and long ; the anal broadest in the middle, narrowing 

 to each end ; the tail round. 



This fish is reckoned delicate eating, and those who can 



