THE SOLE. 379 



branched, except two or three of the short lateral ones ; pectorals 

 small, about as long as the middle rays of the dorsal ; ventrals placed 

 in advance of the pectorals, appearing as if a continuation of the 

 anal, but separated from it by a deep notch, in which is placed the 

 vent. Anal commencing in a line under the base of the pectorals, 

 answering to the dorsal, and terminating nearly in the same line ; 

 snout obtuse and rounded. Mouth rather small, irregular ; jaws 

 nearly of equal length ; teeth very small and fine, placed in many 

 rows in front ; on the eye-side they are entirely wanting ; gill-cover 

 rounded ; eyes small, the left rather in advance ; the right, situated 

 nearly over the angle of the mouth ; left side of the head, furnished 

 with numerous white cirri ; scales small and adherent, finely ciliated 

 at their free margins, rendering the whole back rough to the touch 

 when the hand is passed from tail to head ; lateral line straight 

 throughout its course, excepting at the commencement, where it 

 takes a high curve under the seventh or eighth ray of the dorsal. 

 Number of fin rays — 

 D. 80 ; P. 8; V. 5 ; A. 67 ; C 18. 



There are few marine fishes better known than the Com- 

 mon Sole, which is universally esteemed as a delicate, whole- 

 some, and well-flavoured article of food, especially when 

 in season. It is found to inhabit the Baltic, the whole 

 of the Scotch and English shores, and as far southwards 

 as the Mediterranean. It frequents sandy ground, where 

 it feeds on small shells and Crustacea, and possessing no 

 swimming-bladder it keeps close to the bottom. At tlie 

 mouth of the Firth of Forth, soles are taken with the 

 net, but in sparing numbers, falling far short of the de- 

 mand required in the Edinburgh market. A solitary 

 specimen is occasionally found on lines set for haddocks, 

 and then generally of large size ; one of twenty-two inches 

 in length was caught a short time since near the Bass, 

 the skin of which is now preserved, being the largest ex- 

 ample that had been seen in that neighbourhood for many 

 years ; yet on the south coast of England they have been 

 taken considerably larger ; one of twenty-six inches long, 

 and eleven inches and a half wide, and weighing nine 



