%88 OPAH DORY. 



in Scotland. Dr. Mortimer's description is inserted 

 in the Philosophical Transactions for the same 

 year, and is as follows. 



u This fish is smooth-skinned, has no scales, or 

 teeth : it has one erect fin on its back, which arises 

 below its neck, and runs within a little of its tail : 

 on each side, about the middle, between its back 

 and belly, a little forward of the vent, arise a pair 

 of fins : from behind the vent runs one fin, within 

 a little of the tail : the tail-fin is large and forked : 

 the eyes are large; the irides are-scarlet, encom- 

 passed with a circle of gold-colour verged with 

 scarlet : its nostrils are placed above its eyes : the 

 back and upper part of the body, quite to the tail, 

 was of a dark blue or violet-colour ; these and the 

 sides of the body, which were of a bright green, 

 were all speckled with oblong white spots : the 

 chaps were of a pale red ; the nose, gills, and belly, 

 were of a silver-colour, and all the fins of a bright 

 scarlet. It was three feet seven inches long, and 

 three feet ten inches round, in the thickest part : it 

 weighed eighty-two pounds : its mouth was small ; 

 its tongue thick, almost like the human tongue in 

 shape, but rough, and thick set with beards or 

 prickles, which pointed backwards ; so that any 

 thing might easily pass down, but could not easily 

 slip back again : therefore these might serve instead 

 of teeth for retaining its prey or food : its gills 

 resembled those of the Salmon : its body grews 

 very taper towards the tail ; and from being com- 

 pressed to ten inches thickness, becomes near the 

 tail almost round, and about three inches thick : 



