186 NATURAL HISTORY [Fishes. 



be a mistake ; these, however, are not placed in the manner 

 of those of the other fish, but are included in a common co- 

 vering, or scarf-skin ; neither do they, like others, fold over 

 one another, but are placed close together, as nearly as possible, 

 without folding. Let any man take a bit of eel's skin, and 

 wipe the slime clean off, or, if dry, moisten it in a little warm 

 water, and place it before a good microscope, when he will 

 soon be convinced of this fish having scales, and these being 

 placed in the manner foresaid. The structure of the scale 

 too differs from those of all other fish I know ; but the de- 

 scription of this rather belongs to the writer on micrography 

 than systematic ichthyology. I shall close this account of 

 the eel, by observing, that it is very seldom eaten in the Ork- 

 neys. 



Species 2. The Conger. 



The Conger or Conger-Eel, Wil. Icth. 3. Raii Syn. Pise. 37. Muraena Con- 

 ger, Lin. S^s. 420. Brit. Zool. 115. Sib. Scot. 23. 



THE Conger is found very frequent in the sea round these 

 isles ; some are caught at the fishermen's lines, but the otter 

 is by far the most successful in killing congers. He brings 

 them ashore, and eats but a very small part, leaving the rest for 

 the next comer ; and where his haunts are known, the coun- 

 try people are very careful every morning to search for the re- 

 mains of the night, and are seldom disappointed, but find cod, 



