TheOpah.-] OF ORKNEY. 209 



In the British Zoology it is thus described : '* The weight 

 " between seventy and eighty pounds ; shaped Hke the sea- 

 " bream ; the length three feet and a lialf ; the breadth, from 

 " back to belly, almost two feet ; but the thickness, fron) 

 " side to side, not above six inches. 



" The mouth small for the size of the fish, forming a square 

 " opening, and without any teeth in the jaws ; the tongue 

 " thick, resembhng that of a man, but rough, and thick 

 " set with barbs or prickles, pointing backwards, so that 

 " any thing might easily pass down, but could not return 

 *' back ; therefore, these might serve instead of teeth to retain 

 " its prey ; the eyes remarkably large, covered with a mem- 

 " brane, and shining with a glare of gold ; the cover of the 

 " gills like a salmon. 



" The body diminishes very small to the tail, which is 

 " forked, and expands twelve inches ; the gill-fins are broad, 

 " about eight inches long, and play horizontally ; a little be- 

 " hind their insertion, the back-fin takes its original, where 

 " it is about seven inches high, but slopes away very sudden- 

 " ly, running down very near the tail, and at its termination 

 " becomes a little broader ; the belly-fins are very strong, and 

 *« placed near the middle of the body ; a narrow fin also runs 

 " from the anus to the tail. 



" All the fins, and also the tail, are of a fine scarlet ; but 

 " the colours and beauty of the rest of the body, which is 

 " smooth, and covered with almost imperceptible scales, beg- 

 " gars all descri[)tion, the upper part being of a bright green, 

 " variegated with whitish spots, and enriched with a shining 



Dd 



