The Sea-Wolf. 431 
THE SEA-WOLF, OE SEA-BAT, 
(Anarrhichas lupus,) 
Is often caught in the European seas ; and is ahout five 
or six feet in length, and has a larger and flatter head 
than the shark. The back, sides, and fins are of a bluish 
colour; the body is nearly white ; the whole skin is smooth 
and slippery, without any appearance of scales. It is of 
a very voracious nature, and has a double row of sharp 
and round teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw. Its 
appetite, however, does not lead it to destroy fishes 
similar in shape to itself, as it is supposed to feed chiefly 
on crustaceous and molluscous animals, whose shells it 
breaks easily with its teeth. It is sometimes found in 
the northern seas exceeding twelve feet in length, and 
owes its name to its natural fierceness and voracity. The 
fishermen dread its bite, and endeavour as speedily as 
possible to strike out its fore-teeth, which are so strong, 
that they are capable of leaving an impression on an an- 
chor. The fins nearest the head spread themselves, when 
the animal is swimming, in the shape of two large fans, 
and their motion contributes considerably to accelerate its 
natural swiftness. The flesh is good, and as it bears salt- 
ing well it is an important article of food to the Icelanders, 
in whose seas this fish occurs in great abundance and of 
large size. 
