199 



SOLEA. 



FoBM of the body oblong, the front rounded; eyes towards the right; 

 mouth twisted toward the blind side, with teeth only towards that 

 side. Lateral line straight. Pectoral fins on both sides of the body. 



The fishes of this genus, like some others of this curiously-formed 

 family, have received their name from the general appearance of their 

 shape, as distinguished in their general outline. Thus the Common 

 Sole is regarded as shewing the form of the lower portion or sole of a 

 shoe; while with the Greeks it obtained the name of Bouglossa, from 

 a supposed resemblance to the tongue of an ox. Hippoglossus and 

 Cj-noglossus were also named from a fancied likeness to the tongue of 

 a horse and a dog. The Flounder is so called from its mode of 

 progression along the ground, and its other name of Fluke is from its 

 flat rhomboidal shape; being the same which is retained for the name, 

 among other objects, of the flattened portion or claw of the anchor of 

 a ship. But appears to be a northern word, which signifies a rounded 

 and flattened surface, as was the mark at which arrows were aimed 

 from a bow; and the word Tur, which was formerly written, and is 

 still in many places pronounced Tar, added to But, is significant of a 

 flatfish which has its surface studded over with thorns. It does not 

 appear that the Holibut was so named from any idea of its supposed 

 sanctity, but that it was best known near Heligoland, or the Holy 

 Island. The name of Passer, by which some of these fishes were 

 designated at an early date, was derived from a fancied comparison 

 with the Sparrow; for no better reason than that both the fish and 

 the bird were brown or dark above, and of a light colour below. 



