HAVN FIORD. 
189 
for home consumption and exportation. Among 
the species used for the former purpose is the 
Cyclopterus Lumpus , to the different sexes of 
which the natives have given different names; 
calling the male, Randmage , a term applicable 
to it alone, from the circumstance of its having a 
red belly, and the female, Grasleppa , from be¬ 
ing grey beneath. This is one of the most 
hideous of all fishes in appearance, but is highly 
curious from the nearly circular fleshy appendage 
on the underside, with which, while alive, it 
adheres so firmly to whatever it fixes upon, that 
a pail of water may be lifted up by means of it. 
The bony ridge on the back of this animal, in 
all the specimens that came under my observa¬ 
tion, was much more elevated than the figures 
and descriptions both in Pennant and Shaw had 
led me to suppose I should find it, and added 
considerably to the general deformity of the crea¬ 
ture. To render it an article of food among the 
Icelanders, nothing more is requisite than to cut 
away the muscular part of suction, together with 
a considerable portion of the skin of the belly, and 
then remove the entrails, which form the greatest 
part of the bulk of the fish; after which, the small 
portion of flesh that remains upon the bones is 
hung up to dry upon the walls of the houses. 
Bad weather, as in other journies, also accom¬ 
panied me on this, and the rain, after we had 
