DEALFISII. 247 



of it, and the description is, if possible, still more imperfect. 

 Besides some other examples that are known to have fallen 

 under the notice of ordinary observers, it appears from what is 

 said by Albany Hancock, Esq., and Dr. Embleton, in their 

 account of another species of this family presently to be referred 

 to, that at least a couple of specimens of this fish have been 

 obtained nearer to us than the islands of Orkney; since one 

 which measured five feet five inches in length, that was taken 

 on the coast of Northumberland, is preserved in the museum 

 at Newcastle; and another is described by Professor Reid, of 

 St. Andrews, as having been in his possession. 



From the circumstance of the great rarity of this fish, and 

 the mutilation it receives from even moderate handling, so that 

 a specimen preserved in the British Museum is far from being 

 in a perfect condition, our figure and the history of its habits 

 so far as they are known, must of necessity be borrowed from 

 writers of the Natural History of the North; among whom we 

 chiefly distinguish Professor Nilsson, whose authority for its 

 habits were for the most part obtained by inquiry among 

 fishermen of his nation. It is to be remarked however that this 

 eminent Swedish naturalist advances the opinion that there are 

 in reality two species of what in Iceland is called the Vaagmaer, 

 and by the Swedes Norsk-Solv-Queite; but that they so closely 

 resemble each other that they are iisually confounded together. 

 As it is thus possible that both these supposed species may be 

 met Avith among ourselves, it is judged best to give a lengthened 

 extract from the Swedish author's volume; and for the sake of 

 greater accuracy to add to it the description of this fish, as 

 given by Dr. Giinther, in his Catalogue of the Fishes of the 

 British Museum. 



This fish, says Nilsson, approaches the coast of Finland, where 

 it is known by the name of Solv-Qucite, or Silver-coloured 

 Holibut; which is intended to signify that its habits are like 

 those of the Flounder. It is rare, although most of the fishermen 

 have met with it; and sometimes after a storm two or three 

 examples are found to have been thrown ashore. Sometimes 

 also in the autumn one or two may be caught in the herring 

 nets, but at other seasons they are believed to lie out of reach 

 in deeper water. At the season of their appearance hoM'ever 

 they are occasionally discovered as they lie quietly close to 



