176 THE DAB THE FLOUNDER. 



The Dab, Gray Flounder, Eock Fluke, or Sand Dab 

 [Pleuronecies limanda ; German: Die Kliesche ; French: 

 La Limande), is readily distinguished from either by 

 its paler (light brown) colour, the abrupt and high arch 

 of the dorsal line over the pectoral fins, and the rough- 

 ness of its scaly surface, from which it has been called, 

 in Latin, Ihnamla (from lima, a file). It is also much 

 smaller, averaging from Gin. to 9in. in length. 



THE FLOUNDER. 



German: Die Flander, Sandhutt. Danish: Skruhhe. Dutch: 



Bot. French : Le Flet. 



It inhabits every part of the British seas, and often fre- 

 quents our rivers beyond the reach of the tide, thriving 



FLOUNDER (Platessa flesus, Plexironectes Jicsxis). 



in salt, brackish, or fresh water. Now that the Thames 

 is getting purer, the flounders are, I am glad to say, 

 returning to the river above London Bridge. The 

 flounder is much smaller than the plaice, it is also more 

 elongated in form, and has a row of sharp, denticulated 

 tubercles, which surround its sides, and are i)laced 

 alono- the base of the dorsal and anal fins. There are 

 specimens without any colour on either side, specimens 

 coloured on both sides, and specimens with both eyes 



