195 



FLOUNDER. 





FLUKE. 



Pas.ter Jiuvmtilis, vulgo Jlesus, Willoughty ; p. 98, table F. 5. 

 Pleuronectex Jiesus, LiNN^US. DoNOVAN; pi. 94, a variety. 



JPlatessa Jlesus, Cuviee. 



" " Fleming ; Br. Animals, p. 198. 



Jemtns ; Manual, p. 455. 



Yareell ; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 303. 

 Pleuronecte flez, Lacepede. 



Pleuronectes Jlesus, Gunthee ; Cat. Br. M., vol. iv, p. 450. 



The Flounder is, more tlian others of this family, a fish of 

 the shore, from which it never goes far; and it gives a 

 preference to harbours into which a river flows, and which it 

 traverses with the tide in search of worms or crustaceous 

 animals; but it does not always retire with the sea, and fresh 

 water seems at times to have a particular charm for it, as it 

 occasionally wanders upward in the deeper rivers to a con- 

 siderable distance, and there it assumes a new appearance as 

 regards colour, as well as that it is said to suiFer loss in the 

 quality of its flesh, but it seems doubtful whether it ever 

 breeds in fresh water. 



This fish is found in abundance on all the coasts of the 

 United Kingdom, and it is known even in Greenland; but 

 the larger numbers appear to be on the north of Europe, 

 where, however, it must be an uncommon circumstance to find 

 it in such vast multitudes as is represented in the account 

 furnished from the coast of Denmark, in December, 1862; 

 where, as we are told in the "Zoologist," (April, 1863,) not 

 less than two millions and a half were believed to have been 

 taken after stormy weather, and the capture was at that time 

 still going on, five hundred men having been engaged for 



