98 
distribution of tliis lisb, wliicli lie says is known to the Norwegians 
as the Solv-qiieiie, i.e. Silvery Holibut ; — “This singular fisb, 
whose jiroper home would seem to be the northern seas, is occa- 
sionally met with on the coasts of rinmark, but never elsewhere 
as regards Scandinavia. It is, however, considered rare, and is 
only seen, I believe, during the autumn, when it is either captured 
in the herring-nets or washed ashore during sloims. At other 
times it is supposed to live in the deeps. In one instance, Ivrdyer 
tells us, it has been met with on the coast of Jutland, between the 
town of Frederikshavn and the Scaw. It swims in the same 
manner as the I'lounder, and when at the bottom, always lies on 
its left side like that fish. The Vaagimer attains a great size, 6 to 
10 feet in length, it is said. According to the fishenuen, it is, 
when alive, excessively obese and rounded on both sides, but the 
fat is of such a liquid and oily nature that it runs out of the fish 
as soon as dead, making him appear fiat and attenuated. The 
YaagmaT is sometimes seen by the fishermen when lying at the 
bottom of the sea in several fathoms water, Avhen it looks like so 
much burnished silver. On these occasions the men sink a 
so-called dragij (such as is used to recover the bodies of dead seals) 
and atfi.x it to the fish^ — which is the more readily accomplished 
owing to its swimming badly, and being far from quick in its 
movements — ^when they haul it into the boat.” 
The absence in this exanqile of the anterior elongated rays of 
the dorsal fin (which seem to be characteristic of the Oar-fish), the 
position of the vent, the great disparity in size in the various 
recorded individuals, and the absence of the two blackish spots 
mentioned by Dr. Gunther, seem to indicate that more than one 
.species of this fish may exist, as held by Nilsson, or that the Gar- 
fish may have been mistaken for it, but they are so rare, and when 
captured generally so dilapidated and difficult of exact description, 
that no two descriptions agree; perhaps also, as Dr. Gunther 
suggests, there may exist sexual or individual differences in this 
species which still further com]Jicate the matter. The saine 
authority tells me, that the best descriiition (because taken from 
apparently well-preserved examples) is that by Nilsson in his 
‘ Scandinavisk Fauna.’ 
It is much to be regretted that the specimen now under notice 
was not immediately forwarded in a fresh state by the fishermen to 
Dr. Giinthcr, as suggested by Mr. Dump. 
