312 NATURAL HIStORY IFishes. 



Species 2. — The Plaice. 



Phise, PVil. Icth. 96> Rati Syn. Pise. 31. Plueionectes Platessa, Lin.Sys. 



436. Brit. Zool. 186. 



Likewise caught here, though not very large. The skin 

 is a httle rough, without scales ; has six tubercles behind the 

 left eye. 



The body is broader, in proportion to its length, than seve- 

 ral of the other species of this genus ; the colour of the upper 

 side brown, with orange and red spots ; the belly white. 



This species keeps much on the sand-banks and muddy 

 grounds; found frequently on the bank of the harbour of 

 Stromness, and at the top of the bay, likewise in the bay of 

 Skeal, and other flat sandy shores round the Orkneys. A few 

 are caught on small lines made on purpose, but they are not 

 much sought after. 



Species 3. — The Flounder'. 



Flounder, Fluke, or But, PVil. Icth. 980. Rait Syn. Pise. ^2 Pleuronectes 

 Flesus, Lin. Sys. 437. Brit. Zool. 187. 



This is found in all our bays, creeks, and inlets, especially 

 if the ground be flat and sandy ; also very frequent in the 

 shallower parts of the loch of Stenness, where I have seen 



