320 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



The Atlantic salmon (Sal 1 mo sa'lar) is a well-known food- 

 fish found on the coasts of both Europe and America. Unlike 

 the eel, the salmon spends most of its life in the sea, visiting 

 the fresh water, however, to spawn, in this ascent leaping 

 waterfalls which may be in its way. Leaps of over twelve 

 feet have been recorded. Several allied species of salmon 

 are extensively canned on the Pacific coast. 



The flatfishes (including among other fishes the flounders 

 and halibuts) are a family of compressed fishes, dark on one 

 side and light on the other, which lie on the light side on 



FIG. 159. Flatfish 

 (From Report of Fur-Seal Investigations) 



the bottom of the sea (Fig. 159). When thus placed the 

 dark surface is protectively colored and the eyes are both on 

 the upper side, which is sometimes the right side and some- 

 times the left side of the body. When they are hatched they 

 have an eye on either side and they swim like other fishes, 

 though with a slight leaning to one side, which becomes more 

 and more marked as they develop, till they finally turn entirely 

 over. The eye on the light side has meanwhile worked its 

 way slowly round on to the dark side, where it remains with 

 its fellow, looking upward when the fish lies on the bottom. 



