MALACOPTERYGir 575 



this the term Pleuronectes refers. DeKay designates tne FLAT, 

 FISH, having the eyes and colored surface on the right, as dex- 

 tral species, and the FLOUNDERS, which have the eyes and col- 

 ored surface on the left, assinistral species. Of the latter is the 

 OBLONG FLOUNDER, Platessa oblonga, (Plate XIV. fig. 5,) found 

 on our coast, and from fifteen to twenty inches in length. 

 The Turbot, Rho?nbus maximus, is considered the best of Euro 

 pean fishes. The SPOTTED or WATERY TURBOT, Pleuronectes 

 maculatus, or Rhombus aquosus, (Storer,) is found on our coast 

 and sometimes called the English Turbot, but is distinguished 

 from that fish by the absence of the numerous tubercles on the 

 colored side, which characterize the latter. 



The Halibut, (Hippoglossus vulgaris,) has a longer body and 

 sharper teeth than others of the family. Sometimes it reaches 

 a great size. Dr. Storer speaks of one that weighed six hundred 

 pounds, though a Halibut weighing two hundred pounds is con 

 sidered large. The fins are regarded by epicures as a very 

 choice part of this fish. There are several species of Flat-fish, 

 Platessa, most of which are prized for food. The FLOOR, P. 

 Jlesus, and the DAB, P. limanda, are European species. The 

 COMMON SOLE, Achirus mollis, is found abundantly on our At 

 lantic coast. 



(24) Cyclopterida, (Gr. circular or cup-shaped fins.) The 

 LUMP-FISHES, or LUMP-SUCKERS. 



These are a small family, having the ventral fins so united as 

 to form a sort of cup-shaped disk, with a funnel-shaped cavity 

 in the center, by which they adhere firmly to any solid object. 

 The body is rough, being covered with very bony tubercles. 

 They are called SUCKERS on account of a curious sort of suck 

 ing disk, by means of which they adhere to the rocks of the 

 bottom, or to any other substance. The skeleton is so soft that 

 some members of the family are said to dissolve after death into 

 a mucilaginous jelly, in which hardly any trace of bone remains. 

 These fish are represented by three genera : Lepidogaster, Lum- 

 pus, and Liparis, the two latter having American species. The 

 LUMP-SUCKER, Lumpus anglorum, or Cydopterus caruleus, is 

 called in Scotland, the COCK-PADDLE. In England it has the 

 name of SEA OWL, as well as Lump-fish and Lump-sucker. Its 

 appearance is remarkably grotesque. The ventral unite with 

 the pectoral fins, and form a single disk. Some of the family 

 have two disks, one formed by the pectorals, the other by the 

 ventrals ; hence these fish have been called Discoboli, (Gr. throw 

 ers of the DISCUS, or quoit.) They are now sometimes included 

 with the Blennies. Pennant says that one of the Lump-fishes 



