FLOUNDER. 243 



swim obliquely ; and, having no air-bladder, continue 

 entirely at the bottom of the water. 



Holibut. On the northern coasts of England, these 



ish are sometimes caught of such size as to weigh from 



two to three hundred pounds. Except the sharks, they 



are the largest of all known fishes. So voracious are 



they, that they seize upon and devour crabs, lobsters, 



cod, haddocks, flat-fish, and, in short, every species of 



iving creature which passes within reach of their haunts. 



[nstances have occurred of their swallowing even the 



ead of lines employed by ships for sounding the depth 



of the sea. They spawn in the spring of the year, 



among the rocks and weeds near the sea-shore. Their 



ova are of a pale red colour. They are easily caught 



with a bait ; but they are coarse eating, except those 



sarts which are near the side fins, and these are fat and 



delicious, but too rich for a person to eat much of 



them. 



The eyes of the Holibut are on the right side of the 

 body. Their skin, which is dusky above and white on 

 the under parts, is perfectly free from spines. The 

 general shape of the body is long and narrow. 



Flounder. These fish are found in the seas of nearly 

 all the northern parts of the world ; and not in the sea 

 only, but also in waters connected with the sea, which 

 are not at all saline. The Flounders that are caught in 

 the river Thames, are considered firmer and better fla- 

 voured than those which are found in any other part of 

 England. They swim entirely at the bottom of the 

 tvater, burying themselves in the sand or mud, where 

 ;hey lie concealed, except their mouth and eyes, and 



M 2 



