242 MALACOP. SUB-BRACH. FLAT FISH. 



of smallest size, thus Intimating tliat it is approacliing 

 the limit of its extension in that direction. JMany 

 places on the eastern coasts of England supply it 

 in large quantities ; but the principal fisheries are 

 on the south and west, where the Sole attains a 

 large size, and is thought to be in other respects 

 superior to those obtained elsewhere. Its geogra- 

 phical range appears to be very extensive beyond 

 the limits of the British seas. Northwards the 

 Baltic and Scandinavian seas ; westward the shores 

 of North America, and the neighbourhood of Suri- 

 nam ; southwards, the coasts of Spain and Portug-al, 

 and the Mediterranean, where there is an abundant 

 fishery at the island of Sardinia, are a few of the 

 localities that have been given. It is even said that 

 Mr. Bowdich observed the Common Sole in the 

 river Gambia ; but in this, and perhaps in some 

 other instances, it is probable that another species 

 was mistaken for it. 



The shape of the body is a long oval, much 

 rounded anteriorly, the greatest width nearly on a 

 line with the hinder extremity of the pectoral fins, 

 and not amounting to half the length ; the colour 

 of the surface nearly a uniform dark brown, having 

 a reticulated appearance ; the pectoral fin tipped 

 with black. The under side is white, and the side 

 of the head opposite the eyes is covered with a kind 

 of villosity consisting of numerous soft papillas. 



The Sole frequents deep water, and is seldom 

 fished for >\^th a bait, as it very rarely can be in- 

 duced to take one. Trawling is therefore resorted 



