UEALFISir. 
247 
of it, and the description is, if possible, still more imperfect. 
Besides some other examples that are known to have fallen 
under the notice of ordinary observers, it appears from what is 
said by Albany Hancock, Esq., and Dr. Embleton, in their 
account of another species of this family presently to be referred 
to, that at least a couple of specimens of this fish have been 
obtained nearer to us than the islands of Orkney; since one 
which measured five feet five inches in length, that was taken 
on the coast of Northumberland, is preserved in the museum 
at Newcastle; and another is described by Professor E.eid, of 
St. Andrews, as having been in his possession. 
From the circumstance of the great rarity of this fish, and 
the mutilation it receives from even moderate handling, so that 
a specimen preserved in the British Museum is far from being 
in a perfect condition, our figure and the history of its habits 
so far as they are known, must of necessity be borrowed from 
writers of the Natural History of the North; among whom we 
chiefly distinguish Professor Nilsson, whose authority for its 
habits were for the most part obtained by inquiry among 
fishermen of his nation. It is to be remarked however that this 
eminent Swedish naturalist advances the opinion that there are 
in reality two species of what in Iceland is called the Vaagmaer, 
and by the Swedes Norsk-Solv-Queite; but that they so closely 
resemble each other that they are usually confounded together. 
As it is thus possible that both these supposed species may be 
met with among ourselves, it is judged best to give a lengthened 
extract from the Swedish author’s volume; and for the sake of 
greater accuracy to add to it the description of this fish, as 
given by Dr. Giinther, in his Catalogue of the Fishes of the 
British Museum. 
This fish, says Nilsson, approaches the coast of Finland, where 
it is known by the name of Solv-Queite, or Silver-coloured 
Holibut; which is intended to signify that its habits are like 
those of the Flounder. It is rare, although most of the fishermen 
have met with it; and sometimes after a storm two or three 
examples are found to have been thrown ashore. Sometimes 
also in the autumn one or two may be caught in the herring 
nets, but at other seasons they are believed to lie out of reach 
in deeper water. At the season of their appearance however 
they are occasionally discovered as they lie quietly close to 
