504 THE SCOPELI ET STERNOPTYX OLEEKSII. 



shallows. Like the Salmon, it is thought to be gifted 

 with an enormous power of digestion, there being seldom 

 anything else found in its stomach than pieces of seaweed 

 and clay, swallowed together with the molluscs on which 

 it has preyed. It spawns probably during spring or 

 autumn, as it then approaches shallow water. 



The NorcUsk JPrick-Fisk, Sw. {Scopelus borealls, 

 Nilss. ; Maitrolicus 31-iilleri, Kroy.), is not uncommon 

 on the western coast of Norway, more especially in 

 tlie vicinity of Bergen. It has also been met with in 

 the Cattegat, and occasionally near Gothenburg, but 

 hitherto appears not to have been found in the Danish 

 seas. This brilliant little fish w^ould rarely seem to exceed 

 two inches in length. Of its habits, breeding or other- 

 wise, little seems at present known. It is not within 

 my province to say if this fish is identical with the Argen- 

 tine, or Sheppy Argentine, of English authors, or with 

 Scopelus Humboldtii, Cuv. 



The Sco2)eli(s glaciaUs, Eeinh. {Strums Frick-Fisk, 

 Sw.), has hitherto only been taken in a single instance in 

 the Scandinavian seas, which was near Sondmor (lat. 62°), 

 in western Norway. Several specimens are now in the 

 Copenhagen Museum from Northern Greenland, where it 

 would seem to be scarce. Its habits, I imagine, are 

 quite unknown. 



The Sternoptyx Olfersii, Cuv. {Olfers Flatt-Fisk, Sw.), 

 though a tropical fish, has recently found a place in the 

 Scandinavian fauna, two specimens having been met 

 Avitli in the Norwegian seas, most probably carried thither 

 by the Gulf Stream. One of them was cast ashore near 

 Haneufjord, in Helgeland, and is now in the Bergen 

 Museum; and a drawing of the other, which was captured 

 on the coast of Nordlanden, is in the same repository. 

 From various circumstances there is every reason to 

 Ijelieve this fish dwells at a great de])th. 



