164 
SAIL FLUKE. 
and it sometimes happens that by them the gulls are disappointed 
of their prize. 
The interest attached to the possession and examination of 
such a fish has necessarily led to enquiry after it in the 
regions to -ndiich it was supposed to be confined; and in doing 
this I have been materially and kindly aided by the proffered 
assistance of Mr. John G. Ivcrach, of Kirkwall, whose earlier 
efforts, however, were only successful in procuring the information 
that the Sail Fluke had not been met with there for several 
years. At last, however, w'e have been more fortunate, and 
two examples were obtained in the Island of North Eonaldshay, 
by Mr. Charles Thomson; who has kindly contributed to the 
progress of scientific knowledge by sending them to Kirkwall 
to the care of Mr. lyerach, by whom they were dispatched, 
enclosed in salt, to me; and it is from these specimens that our 
figure and description have been taken. I have not been informed 
of the manner in which these examiiles were caught; but it 
is proper to observe that in this instance the guUs have been 
deprived of their banquet, for no mutilation was to be discerned, 
and the liver remained w'ithin its projrer cavity. 
From examination, however, we* are led to conclude that, 
although the remarkable habits above referred to as being 
observed in Orkney, have not been noticed in our south and 
western districts, the fish itself scarcely appears to be rare 
with us. It is judged by Dr. Gunther to be the Whiff, ( E. 
mcijastoma of authors;) and although we find it to differ in 
some portion of its character, as we shall see, from that of the 
subgenus in which that gentleman arranges it, it so closely 
approaches to what we know of that species, that we do not 
question the fact; although from comparison, as they lie 
together, we are further led to conclude that the Carter of 
Cornish fishermen must be set down as a distinct species. 
The difference between them, as well regarding structure as 
habit, will more particularly appear when we have described 
the last mentioned fish; but at present we only remark that 
the English examples of what we suppose to be the Sail 
Fluke, like those of Orkney, have not been known to take 
a bait; nor has it been found enclosed in nets that have been 
used near the land. It is in the trawl only that we have 
known them obtained at Plymouth and Falmouth: and it is 
