222 MALACOP. SUB-BRACH. FLAT PISH. 



light, is invariably of some shade of earthen brown, 

 or of greyish sand colour ; this is broken by dots 

 and blotches, either light or dark, blackish or red- 

 dish, but always so disposed as to resemble those 

 under-shades, as they may be called, which are 

 caused by the inequalities of the ground, and the 

 presence of particles of different tints that may 

 be upon it. Thus whether we contemplate the 

 God of Nature in his most sublime productions, or 

 in those provisions which He makes for the well- 

 being of his most irrational creatures, the same 

 principle of design — the same absolute perfection 

 in execution^— is equally conspicuous."* 



Gen. LXXXI. Platessa. — This genus has both 

 eyes on the right side of the head, one above the 

 other ; a single roAV of teeth in each jaw, and the . 

 pharyngeal bones, as it were, paved with teeth ; 

 dorsal fin commencing over the upper eye and 

 continued along the back to within a short distance 

 of the tail ; the anal nearly corresponding to it, but 

 not continued so far forward ; tail rounded at the 

 end. 



(Sp. 168.) P. vulgaris. Common Plaice. This 

 is a well-known fish along all our shores, and in 

 great demand for the excellence of its flesh, which 

 is very delicate and of most agreeable taste. The 

 marks by which it may be distinguished from the 

 other flat fish are, as will be seen by a reference to 

 our Synopsis, sufficiently obvious and decisive, but 



* Swainson, Cab. Cyc. Fishes, vol. i. p. 313. 



