THE WOLF-FISH. 85 



etc., and it is far from being uncommon among 

 the Orkneys. 



Notwithstanding its repulsive appearance, 

 the flesh of this fish is a delicacy ; in the 

 countries of Norway, Sweden, etc., the head 

 and the thick slimy skin are removed pre- 

 viously to any culinary operations, and the 

 latter is converted into serviceable bags, and 

 other articles. 



The wolf-fish is really as ferocious as its 

 aspect indicates ; when inclosed in a net, either 

 by accident or by the temptation which the 

 imprisoned crowd offers to its voracity, it makes, 

 on discovering its peril, the most desperate 

 efforts for escape ; it rushes against the meshes, 

 endeavouring to break through, it tries to rend 

 the cordage, and often succeeds, and should it 

 fail, it fights and snaps with tremendous fury, 

 even when hauled on board the boat, struggling 

 till the blow of a heavy handspike on the head 

 deprives it of motion or existence. 



From the length of the body the fish swims 

 with an undulatory motion, and with great 

 vigour ; the female deposits her eggs near the 

 shore, in June. The general colour of this 

 tyrant of the seas is brownish grey, with darker 

 vertical bands on the back, and intermediate 

 spots ; the under snrfnoo is whitish ; a trian- 



