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FLAT FISHES; PLEURONECTID.<E. 



TlIK Flat Fishes, as they an- ]opulaily called, or tin- lMfin.,n.-. -tida>, as they are 



ntilically. an- among the most remarkable of tin- linnx tril-. Tin- latter na is of Greek 



origin, ami signifies side-swimmer, in allusion to the IIHH!.- of progression usually adopted 1>\ 

 tin--.- ti-!i'--. 



The COM M ! of tin- most familiar o f the flat fishes. 



The Soli- ran U- taken by tip- lin-. I'tit tin- fishermen always use the trawl-net, a kind of 

 huge dredge, with a mouth that often exceeds thirty feet in width. As these nets are drawn 

 along the led of the sea, the great beam which edges the mouth scrapes tin- mini and sand, 

 and alarms tin- li-h to -udi an extent that th>-\ .ia-h wildly :il>ut. and mostly dart into the 

 n. -t, whence they n ever escape. Vast numbers of Soles an- taken by tliis method of fishing, and 

 as the trawls brine to tin- surface mormons quantities of crustaceans molliisks, zoophytes, 

 and otln-r marine inhabitants, tlie ener^-tic naturalist cannot employ his time lietter than in 

 taking a sail in one of these Ixiats. and enduring a few hours' inroim-nii nre for the sake of the 

 rich harve.st which he is sure to reap. 



It is u hardy fi-h, and can SIMHI IM- acclimatized to live in fresh water; and it is said that 

 under such circumstances ;h. fi-h can ! readily fattened, and l>ecomes nearly twice as thick as 

 when lip-d in the si-a. Soni.-tini.^ the Sdes ventnn- into tip- months of rixer-, pa>sin.ir alxmt 

 four or live miles into th.- fr.-sh water, and dejM>.sjtini; their multitudinous e^ys in such Icx-.ilities. 



Thn ZEBRA SOLE is a native of Japanese waters, and is remarkable for the waving dark 

 llreaks with which its i . is covered, an<l which beut jresit !- -ail -lam \>< \\\>- --n i]- up<.n 

 the zebra's hide. In habits it appears to resemble the common -[.ecies. 



The LEMO OX FI:KM M SOLE (X mm], derives tin- former of tln-M- titles fi-om 



the lemon-yellow color of its upper surface, and the latt-r from the localities in which it 

 Is most commonly found. It is found generally about sixteen miles off the Kntrlish coasts. 

 The color of thN ti-li is orange, mixe<l with light brown, and mottled with little round spots 

 of wood-brown. It is wider in pi-ojxirtion to its length than the common Sole. Another 

 species, the \ \I:IK.\IKD SOLE (SoUa n>/ / naylw known by the n-<ldi-li brown color, 



loud. -<! with dark brown. The body is rather thick in proportion to ita length. 



The SOI.ENETTE, or LITTLE SOI.K > .l/-/////<7/// //.% /////////////), is seldom more than five 

 inches long, and of a reddish -brown color, without cloudings. 



Perhaps the most remarkable of these fishes is the TRA.N-T .\I:KNT SOLE (Achirug 

 pelluridiu.) 



This rare and interesting fish is a native of the Pacific Ocean, and is notable for the 

 extreme pellucidity of its body, which is so marvellously transparent, that when swimming in 

 a vase of water, or lying on the bottom, the algM- or stones can In- distinctly seen through its 

 structures. It is quite colorless, except a very -lender and very delicate pink streak on the 

 edge of the back, and several similar lines njxm the sides ; the perfect but glass-like skeleton 

 is hardly to be detected, and even the viscera are almost invisible. It is a very little fish, 

 appearing not to exceed two inches in length ; but its u Mr h is proportionately great, so that 

 the fish assumes a nearly circular form. The eyes are silvery-white, and the pectoral fins are 

 wholly absent. 



The AMERICAN SOLE (Ach hnx Uneatus). This ti-li is found from Cape Cod southward. 

 At one time a notion prevailed that the flesh was not eatable, but the truth is, it is not 

 only wholesome, but very delicate. It is called Calico and Hoe-choke Cover Clip in New 

 Jersey, and Spotted Sole in Massachusetts. 



THK well-known TfRBOT, so widely and so worthily celebrated for the tirm delicacy of its 

 flesh, inhabits many of the European coasts, and is generally found in tolerable abundance. 

 Lake all flat fishes, it mostly haunts the sandy bed of the sea, but will sometimes -wim boldly 

 to the surface of the water. It is a restless and wandering fish, traversing considerable 

 \istances as it feeds, and generally moving in small companies. 



Vot- OL-M. 



