The Sea- Wolf . 



431 



THE SEA-WOLF, OR SEA-BAT, 

 (Anarrhichas lupus,) 



Is often caught in the European seas ; and is about five 

 or six feet in length, and has a larger and flatter head 

 than the shark. The back, sides, and fins are of a bluish 

 colour; the body is nearly white ; the whole skin is smooth 

 and slippery, without any appearance of scales. It is of 

 a very voracious nature, and has a double row of sharp 

 and round teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw. Its 

 appetite, however, does not lead it to destroy fishes 

 similar in shape to itself, as it is supposed to feed chiefly 

 on crustaceous and molluscous animals, whose shells it 

 breaks easily with its teeth. It is sometimes found in 

 the northern seas exceeding twelve feet in length, and 

 owes its name to its natural fierceness and voracity. The 

 fishermen dread its bite, and endeavour as speedily as 

 possible to strike out its fore-teeth, which are so strong, 

 that they are capable of leaving an impression on an an- 

 chor. The fins nearest the head spread themselves, when 

 the animal is swimming, in the shape of two large fans, 

 and their motion contributes considerably to accelerate its 

 natural swiftness. The flesh is good, and as it bears salt- 

 ing well it is an important article of food to the Icelanders, 

 in whose seas this fish occurs in great abundance and of 

 large size. 



