GEX. ANARRHICUS. THE WOLF-FISH. 267 



its own envelope. No sooner do tbey appear, than 

 they swim off readily and with rapidity. The num- 

 ber sometimes amounts to 300, and even more. 



This fish is not known further south than the 

 British Channel, and is taken, though rarely, on both 

 its shores. It is thus not unknown at Abbeville, and 

 is sometimes seen on the coasts of Cornwall and 

 Devonshire. Advancing northwards on the east 

 coast, it becomes more common, and is abundant 

 on the Scottish shores, and in the Orkneys, the 

 Baltic, and northern shores. In the Firth of Forth 

 they exist in great plenty, and are often taken with 

 lines in the winter months, and are brought to 

 market, where they find a ready sale at a small 

 price. Some consider the flesh as excellent and 

 wholesome, whilst others pronounce it dry and dis- 

 agreeable. From its shape it is called the Eelpout ; 

 also, Guffer, The back bone, says Low, after boil- 

 ing, is of a most beautiful green colour ; whence its 

 Orkney name, the Greenhone. 



Gen. XLIII. Anarrhicus. — ^This genus has very 

 striking alliances with the other members of the 

 family, but differs in its greater size, in the total 

 absence of ventral fins, and the extraordinary con- 

 formation of its teeth, which consist of very powerful 

 canines and grinders. Lacepede enumerated four 

 supposed species, which, however, seem to have 

 been nothing more than differences arising from 

 age. There appears to be only one acknowledged 

 species, namely, 



(Sp. 71.) A. lupus. The Wolf- fish, Sea-cat of 



