FISHES. 273 



Family CORYPH^JNID^E. 



Lampris luna (Gm.). Opah, 



More than two centuries ago, Wallace described this fish from a 

 specimen taken in Sanday, and gave a plate of it. Since then 

 several more have been taken about these islands, and one of 

 our correspondents considers it not rare. 



Baikie in the Zoologist for 1853 says one was taken in 

 Sanday, nearly 6 feet long. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw one in a cart near Scapa, which 

 had been taken in the islands, somewhere about 1865. 



Family SCOMBRID-ffi. 



Scomber scomber, L. Mackerel. 



Low mentions these fish as occurring in vast shoals in the end 

 of July and beginning of August, one of these immense shoals 

 extending from a good way to the eastward of Copinsay to 

 within Holm Sound. He adds that notwithstanding all this, 

 the people take but little trouble about them. 



Of late years the Mackerel seems to have almost abandoned 

 these islands, as they have so many other parts of the north of 

 Scotland, though a few still occur. 



Family TRACHINIDJE. 



Trachinus vipera, Cuv. et Vol. Lesser Weever. 



One was dug out of the sand at Scapa Bay by Dr. Duguid, in 

 1849, and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has a specimen taken at Swan- 

 bister by Mr. Halcro the only one seen by him. 



Family PEDICULATI. 

 Lophius piscatorius, L. The Angler. 



Ore. = Mersgam. Fishing Frog. 

 Apparently a common species in Orkney, and on two occasions 



