GEN. LAMPRIS. THE OPAH, OR KING-FISH. 223 



though it is not a constant resident. M. Faber 

 lias discovered no evidence that it penetrates further 

 north, or is to be found in Greenland. He informs 

 us that its flesh is red, very like salmon, and that it 

 is much esteemed by the Icelanders. Nilsson enu- 

 merates it among the Norwegian fishes, but con- 

 siders it as one of the rarest. It is not uncommon 

 among the Shetland islands; and Professor Rein- 

 hart has recently recorded, that^J^ithin the last 

 thirty years, three individuals have been taken on 

 the coast of Denmark ; and what is very remark- 

 able, they were all captured near the same spot. 

 (Apud Yarrell). 



Dr. Parnell informs us, that in July 1835, one 

 of these fishes was washed ashore in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Queensferry, which was five feet in 

 length, and computed to weigh eleven stones. 

 The body was cut up, taken away, and eaten by 

 the fishermen, who stated that the flesh was red, 

 remarkably good, equal to that of salmon, and 

 much of the same flavour. Another was seen at 

 the same time and place; but in consequence of 

 the weather being stormy, they were unable to 

 catch it. From Mr. Yarrell's well-stored pages we 

 learn, that since the capture of the Brixham speci- 

 men mentioned by Pennant in 1772, many have 

 been procured on the British shores. One is pre- 

 served in the British Museum ; and another, taken 

 within these few years, has been added to the 

 Andersonian Museum in Glasgow. Mr. Couch 

 informs us that one has been taken in Cornwall; 



