PISCES— SOLE. ..LUMP FISH. 



743 



THE SOLE. 1 



This well-known and delicious fish is remarkable for one extraordinary 

 circumstance ; they have been known to feed on shell-fish, although they 

 are furnished with no apparatus whatever in their mouth for reducing them 

 to a state calculated for digestion. The stomach, however, has a dissolvent 

 power, which makes up for the want of masticating apparatus. But the 

 most usual food for soles is the spawn and young of other fish. 



THE LUMP FISH, LUMPSUCKER, OR SEA OWL,* 



Is sixteen inches in length, and its weight about four pounds ; the shape of 

 the body is like that of the bream, deep, and it swims edgewise, the back is 

 sharp and elevated, and the belly flat; the lips, mouth, and tongue of this 

 animal are of a deep red ; the whole skin is rough, with bony knobs, the 

 largest row is along the ridge of the back ; the belly is of a bright crimson 

 color ; but what makes the chief singularity in this fish, is an oval aperture 

 in the belly, surrounded with a fleshy, soft substance, that seems bearded all 

 round ; by means of this part it adheres with vast force to any thing it 

 pleases. If flung into a pail of water, it will stick so close to the bottom, 

 that on taking the fish by the tail, one may lift up pail and all, though it 

 hold several gallons of water. Great numbers of these fish are found along 



1 Solea vulgaris, Cuv. This genus has the mouth twisted to the side opposite to the 

 eyes ; jaws destitute of teeth on the eye side; body oblong; dorsal fin commencing at the 

 mouth, and running, as well as the anal fin, to the tail ; lateral line straight. 



1 Cyclopterus lumpus, Lin. This genus has the mouth large, with very small pointed 

 teeth in both jaws ; pectoral fin, and large ventral fins united in the form of an oval and 

 concave disc bronchial membrane with six rays ; skin viscid and without scales. 



