THE FLATFISHES 2815 



sixty-one pounds. It is stated, however, that an example taken in the early part 

 of the last century off the Isle of Man was nearly double that weight. Holibut are 

 found near all the northern coasts of Europe, as well as those of Kamchatka and 

 California, generally frequenting banks at some distance from the shore, in water of 

 from fifty to one hundred fathoms in depth, where they often associate in consider- 

 able numbers. The flesh is coarse, and of inferior flavor. This fish is shown in 

 the upper figure of the colored plate. 



In the genus typically represented by the turbot {Rhombus maxi- 

 ' ot ' e mus) the dorsal fin commences on the muzzle in advance of the eyes; 

 the eyes are on the left side; the mouth is wide; and the jaws are furnished with a 

 single series of equal-sized villiform teeth, while there are also teeth on the vomer. 

 Scales are either very small or wanting. The genus includes seven species, ranging 

 over the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, but those on both sides of the At- 

 lantic are different. The turbot, which attains a yard in length, and is by far the 

 best food fish of its tribe, is exclusively European, and has the pelvic fins distinct 

 from the anal, and no scales; the general color being grayish or brownish, some- 

 times spotted with a darker tint. On the other hand the brill (Rh. l<zvis\ which 

 is likewise European, is a smaller fish, of more oval shape, with the body and all 

 the head,. except the muzzle, covered with minute scales; its color being grayish 

 brown, with reddish brown spots. Turbot commonly weigh from five to ten pounds, 

 and occasionally reach twenty or even thirty, while considerably greater weights 

 have been recorded. Another British representative of the genus is the Marysole 

 (Rh. aquosus) which may be distinguished by its ciliated scales; while a fourth, 

 known as Block's topknot (Rh. punctatus} differs from all the foregoing by having 

 the pelvic fins confluent with the anal. The true topknot (Phrynorhombus unima- 

 culatus}, which is a small form not uncommon on the southern coasts of England, 

 and abundant in the Mediterranean, is referred to a distinct genus on account of the 

 absence of vomerine teeth. A turbot is shown in the central figure of the colored 

 plate. 



The plaice {Pleuronectes platessa) and flounder (PI. flesus) of 



which examples are shown in the right lower corner of the colored 

 Flounder 



plate are examples of a genus pertaining to a group characterized by 



the narrowness of the cleft of the mouth, and by the jaws and teeth being much 

 more developed on the light than on the dark side. Unlike the turbot and its 

 allies, where the upper is somewhat behind the lower, the two eyes are in the same 

 transverse line, and generally situated on the right side. The dorsal fin commences 

 above the eyes; the scales are minute or wanting; and there are no teeth on the 

 palate, while those in the jaws are of medium size, and may be arranged in either a 

 double or a single row. The genus, which is common to the Northern, Temper- 

 ate, and Arctic seas of both Hemispheres, contains over a score of species, which 

 may be divided into groups according to the form of the teeth, the number of rays 

 in the dorsal fin, and the conformation of the lateral line. The plaice, which ranges 

 from the French coasts to Iceland, and is represented by an allied form on this 

 side of the Atlantic, belongs to a group with compressed, lanceolate, or trun- 

 cate teeth, and no fewer than ninety dorsal rays; it has the brownish upper sur- 



