288 ACANTHOPT. THE WRISTED FAMILY. 



expressing his surprise at the number, he was told 

 it was not uncommon to take a dozen at once." Dr. 

 Parnell informs us that a short time since, some 

 fishermen at Queensferry observing the water much 

 discoloured at a particular spot near the shore, pro- 

 ceeded to discover the cause, and upon poking the 

 bottom a few minutes with a long handled mop, 

 found that a Wide-gape had taken hold of it with 

 intent to take a morsel of it, and the fish not being 

 able to extricate its teeth in sufficient time from the 

 wooly substance of the mop, it was hauled into the 

 boat, and found to measure four feet nine inches. 

 And Colonel Montague remarks, " that when this 

 fish is captured in a net, its captivity does not destroy 

 its rapacious appetite, but it generally devours some 

 of its fellow prisoners ; which are sometimes taken 

 from its stomach alive, especially flounders. Hence 

 it is not so much sought for its own flesh, as for the 

 fish generally to be found in its stomach." (Apud 

 Yarrell.) 



Though thus rejected as an article of food in 

 Devonshire, yet concerning this fish, as of many 

 others, there appears to be a diversity of taste ; and 

 elsewhere very difierent opinions are entertained. 

 M. Valenciennes informs us that the flesh of the 

 Angler, Baudroie, although not quite first-rate, is 

 not to be despised as food ; Dr. Parnell says the 

 flesh is considered good, particularly that near the 

 tail; and M. Risso asserts of the Mediterranean 

 fishes, Gannelli, that they are of exquisite flavour, 

 — d'un goCit exqu'is. 



