THE TURBOT. 265 



FLAT FISHES; PLEURONECTID^E. 



THE Flat Fishes, as they are popularly called, or the Pleuronectidse, as they are named 

 scientifically, are among the most remarkable of the finny tribe. The latter name is of Greek 

 origin, and signifies side-swimmer, in allusion to the mode of progression usually adopted by 

 these fishes. 



The COMMON SOLE is one of the most familiar of the flat fishes. 



The Sole can be taken by the line, but the fishermen always use the trawl-net, a kind of 

 huge dredge, with a mouth thab often exceeds thirty feet in width. As these nets are drawn 

 along the bed of the sea, the great beam which edges the mouth scrapes the mud and sand, 

 and alarms the fish to such an extent that they dash wildly about, and mostly dart into the 

 net, whence they never escape. Yast numbers of Soles are taken by this method of fishing, and 

 as the trawls bring to the surface enormous quantities of crustaceans, mollusks, zoophytes, 

 and other marine inhabitants, the energetic naturalist cannot employ his time better than in 

 taking a sail in one of these boats, and enduring a few hours' inconvenience for the sake of the 

 rich harvest which he is sure to reap. 



It is a hardy fish, and can soon be acclimatized to live in fresh water ; and it is said that 

 under such circumstances the fish can be readily fattened, and becomes nearly twice as thick as 

 when bred in the sea. Sometimes the Soles venture into the mouths of rivers, passing about 

 four or five miles into the fresh water, and depositing their multitudinous eggs in such localities. 



The ZEBRA SOLE is a native of Japanese waters, and is remarkable for the waving dark 

 streaks with which its body is covered, and which bear a great resemblance to the stripes upon 

 the zebra' s hide. In habits it appears to resemble the common species. 



The LEMON SOLE, or FRENCH SOLE (Solea pegusa}, derives the former of these titles from 

 the lemon-yellow color of its upper surface, and the latter from the localities in which it 

 is most commonly found. It is found generally about sixteen miles off the English coasts. 

 The color of this fish is orange, mixed with light brown, and mottled with little round spots 

 of wood-brown. It is wider in proportion to its length than the common Sole. Another 

 species, the VARIEGATED SOLE (Solea variegata), may be known by the reddish-brown color, 

 clouded with dark brown. The body is rather thick in proportion to its length. 



The SOLENETTE, or LITTLE SOLE (Monochirus linguMulus), is seldom more than five 

 inches long, and of a reddish-brown color, without cloudings. 



Perhaps the most remarkable of these fishes is the TRANSPARENT SOLE (Achirus 

 pellucidus.} 



This rare and interesting fish is a native of the Pacific Ocean, and is notable for the 

 extreme pellucidity of its body, which is so marvellously transparent, that when swimming in 

 a vase of water, or lying on the bottom, the algae or stones can be distinctly seen through its 

 structures. It is quite colorless, except a very slender and very delicate pink streak on the 

 edge of the back, and several similar lines upon the sides ; the perfect but glass-like skeleton 

 is hardly to be detected, and even the viscera are almost invisible. It is a very little fish, 

 appearing not to exceed two inches in length ; but its width is proportionately great, so that 

 the fish assumes a nearly circular form. The eyes are silvery- white, and the pectoral fins are 

 wholly absent. 



The AMERICAN SOLE (AcJiirus lineatus). This fish is found from Cape Cod southward. 

 At one time a notion prevailed that the flesh was not eatable, but the truth is, it is not 

 only wholesome, but very delicate. It is called Calico and Hoe-choke Cover Clip in New 

 Jersey, and Spotted Sole in Massachusetts. 



THE well-known TURBOT, so widely and so worthily celebrated for the firm delicacy of its 

 flesh, inhabits many of the European coasts, and is generally found in tolerable abundance. 

 Like all flat fishes, it mostly haunts the sandy bed of the sea, but will sometimes swim boldly 

 to the surface of the water. It is a restless and wandering fish, traversing considerable 

 distances as it feeds, and generally moving in small companies. 



VOL. HI. 84. 



