[231] Concerning the fresh-water fishes, details will be found in the Journal.
[232] R. J. Walker, quoted by Peirce. Dr Carpenter and Professor Wyville Thomson, in the “Lightning,” made the remarkable discovery that sea-water at different depths, is of different temperatures—the older theory being that the sea was of a uniform temperature of 39° (F.).
[233] In intertropical and temperate latitudes Phocæ and Manatis devour the fetid marine vegetation which collects on river bars, chokes the mouths, and causes “Yellow Jack” to prevail from Florida to Rio de Janeiro.
[234] Of course the “finny brood” is not without its folk-lore. There is a variety of “troll-fish” which, being ominous and unlucky, are thrown overboard by their captors. The same takes place farther south, as we learn from Lucas Dobes (Færoe Reseratar, Copenhagen, 1673).
[235] “Gullbringusýsla (literally, Goldbreast county) derives its name from some hills called Gullbringur (Goldbreasts), about twelve English miles distant from Reykjavik. They were so called because tradition says that the old Viking Egill Skallagrímsson there buried the treasure given him by King Athelstan for his assistance at the battle of Brunenburgh” (Jón A. Hjaltalín). This derivation is far more probable than the popular version given in the text: for a third interpretation see the Journal, chap. ii.
[236] The three species on the west coast of Scotland are:
1. The Rawn, or Common Seal (Phoca vitulina), from five to six feet long; coat, tawny-white, spotted brownish-black on back and sides, with darker haslets and dusky-grey belly. The skin is of short bristly hair, but no fur.
2. The Tapraist, or Grey Seal (Halichærus griseus), somewhat larger than the former; the muzzle is black, and the coat dirty brown, looking silver-grey only when the sun strikes the recurved hair.
3. The Bodach, or Old Man (Halket, Halichcærus?), somewhat smaller than No. 1, and very easily tamed.
[237] Forelle is German and Danish; the general Icelandic name of trout is Silungr, but, as might be expected, the nomenclature is rich. Hooker notices this char (i. 97). The “suburtingur” of Baring-Gould (Appendix, 423), a fresh-water fish with pink-coloured flesh and sometimes weighing twenty pounds, does not appear in the Dictionary.