163 



SAIL FLUKE. 



Zeugopterus velivolans, Hichardson; 2nd. Supplement to 



Yarrell's British Fishes. 



The history of this fish, as it is given to us from the Islands 

 of Orkney, is so extraordinary that doubt might be raised of 

 its truth, if it were not supported by the evidence of scientific 

 observers, who have used their endeavours to place the par- 

 ticulars beyond reasonable question. The earliest account appears 

 to have been furnished by Dr. Duguid, of Kirkwall, but it is 

 since confirmed by information received from Mr. Charles 

 Thomson, of North Ronaldshay, who adds that this fish is 

 scarcely rare in that distant island; and in others of that group 

 it may be scarce only from its peculiar habits, for it has not 

 been known to take a bait, and it is only in a single instance 

 that it is said to have been caught in a net. The chance 

 therefore of its falling into human hands was not to be calculated 

 on, and still less so, as we shall see, in an unmutilated con- 

 dition. But its characteristic habit is described as, that in the 

 winter, when the weather happens to be calm, it rises to the 

 surface /of the sea, and with its tail lifted as a sail it makes 

 towards the land, on the sandy shore of which it drives itself, 

 and where it does not fail to be descried by some one of the 

 larger prowling gulls; which, always on the look out, pounces 

 on it for the purpose of tearing open its bowels in search of 

 the liver; and when it has whetted its appetite with this delicacy 

 it bears off" the body of the luckless fish to some safe jjlace 

 where it may be devoured at leisure. As the eyes of these 

 birds are sharp to discover this coveted prey, it is not often 

 that the fish, which is said to be delicious when quite fresh 

 from the sea, can be procured for the table; but to obtain it 

 at the favourable moment of time boys are set on the watch. 



