86 THE FKESH-WATKl; FISHKS OF EUKUl'E. 



Family : PLEURONECTID^. 

 Pleuronectes flesus (Linn.icls).— The Flounder. 



D. C:>— 00, P. 10, Y. 6, A. 39—45, C. IJ. Lat. lino 85. 



Thouo;-h best known as a sea-fisli, tho Flounder everywhere frequents fresh 

 waters, often ascending- rivers for long- distances. It is known in Sweden as 

 the Flandra, from which the English name Floniider may be derived, though 

 it is also known in North Germany and Central Euro])e as Flnnder. The 

 Dutch term it Hot, which is })rol)ably the origin of the term Butt, by which 

 it is known in the backwaters Ijchind Yarmouth and other parts of the east 

 coast, where it abounds. In France it is indiiferently known as Picdiid, 

 Flondre, or more commonly as le Fid. In Scotland and the north of England 

 it shares with Plaice the name of Fl nkc. 



Yarrell says it is taken as high up the Thames as Teddiugton and Sunbury. 

 Before the construction of the Thames Embankment it was frequently taken 

 in London by boys fishing from the river-banks. It formerly ascended the 

 Avon to near Bath, and Mr. Day, in former years, took it at Shrewsbury. 

 Pennant remarks that though they never grow large in our rivers, the fishes are 

 sweeter in flavour than those which live in the sea. In Belgium, according 

 to Selys-Longchamps, it goes up the Scheldt, and passes up the Nethe beyond 

 Brussels to Waterloo. 



It ascends the Rhine, and has been taken in the Moselle at Trier and Metz, 

 and has been recorded in the Rhino at Mainz. It is common in the Baltic, 

 and there enters the rivers, not, however, with the regularity of Salmon, or 

 other mig-ratory fishes like the Eel, but probably in search of food and love 

 of quiet. And it similarly ascends the rivers of France, where it has been 

 taken in the Dordogne and other inland streams. It ascends all the rivers of 

 Russia from the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, the Baltic, and the White Sea, 

 and reaches many of the lakes. 



It ])ossesscs the jjower of adapting its colour to the locality in which it 

 lives. On black mud it is often indistinguishable from the bottom on which 

 it rests, while in clear water, with whito_ sands, it may be white on both sides. 

 Sometimes, as Pennant and otiiers have remarked, the colour is plidc or red, 

 and specimens have been found with orange sjjots in some localities, while 

 other specimens occiisionally have very dark brown spots. It frequently occurs 

 reversed with the colour and eyes on the left side. The Flounder is not very 

 discriminating in food, Init prefers worms, insects, and small fishes, and will 

 also take small niollusca and most animal substances. 



