501 



TLOUNDER. 



Pleuronectes Flesus. P. fuscvs, linea lattrali aspera, spinuHs 



ad radices pinnarum. 

 Brown Flounder, with rough lateral line, and a series of spines 



at the base of the fins. 

 Pleuronectes Flesus. P. oculis dextris, linea laterali aspera, 



spinulis ad pinnas. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 4.57 

 The Flounder. Will, ichth. p. 8. Pcnn, brit. zool. 3. Block. 



t. 44. 



THE Flounder is allied to the Plaise in shape, 

 but is generally of smaller size and of more obscure 

 colours, the upper side being of a dull brown, 

 marbled with paler and darker variegations, and 

 the under side of a dull white, sometimes obscurely 

 varied with brown : the body is covered with very 

 small scales, and along the back, at the base of the 

 dorsal fin runs a row of small sharp spines : a 

 similar row runs along the base of the anal fin : 

 the lateral line is marked by a third row, continued 

 almost to the base of the tail, which is slightly 

 rounded at the end : at the commencement of the 

 anal fin is a pretty strong spine. 



The Flounder is an inhabitant of the Northern, 

 Baltic, and Mediterranean seas : about our own 

 coasts it is extremely common, and even frequents 

 our rivers, at a great distance from the salt waters ; 

 it is in considerable esteem as a food, though much 

 inferior to some others of the genus. 



The Pleuronectes Passer, of Linnaeus, considered 

 by Mr. Pennant and some others as a variety of 

 the Flounder, having the eyes on the left side, is 



