THE COMMON SOLE. 561 



or perhaps iu search of food. lu the Tamoule language it is called 

 Paiieiri, or tree-climber. 



The Flat Fishes, as they are popularly called, or the Pleuronec- 

 tidae, as they are named scientifically, are among the most remarkable 

 of the finny tribe. The latter name is of Greek origin, and signifies 

 " side-swimmer," in allusion to the mode of progression usually adopted 

 by these fishes. 



The popular but erroneous idea of these creatures is that their bodies 

 are flattened, so that the abdomen rests on the ground and the back re- 

 mains uppermost ; but a brief examination suffices to show that the 

 form of these fishes is really compressed, so that when a turbot or a 

 sole is placed on the ground it lies upon one side or the other. Though 

 varying in color, it is found that the upper side is always of a dark tint, 

 the under side being quite if not wholly white. This arrangement is 

 most useful in guarding them against the attacks of enemies, their flat 

 dark upper surface bearing so great a resemblance to the sand on which 

 they love to creep that they can scarcely be distinguished, even when 

 the eye is directed toward them. 



While at their ease they slide themselves over the bed of the sea in 

 a kind of creeping fashion, and have an odd custom of lying with the 

 head raised in a manner that reminds the observer irresistibly of the 

 cobra. If alarmed, they start at once into the vertical position usually 

 assumed by fishes, and dash ofl" with astonishing speed. As they swim 

 the flat fishes undulate through the water in a most graceful manner, 

 and it is very interesting to watch one of the common species, such as 

 the plaice or the sole, swim with serpentine ease and elegance, and then 

 sufter itself to sink slowly to the bottom, where it sits with raised head 

 and watchful eyes. 



It is evident that if the eyes of the flat fishes were placed in the 

 manner customary among the finny race, one eye would be rendered 

 useless as long as the fish was lying upon its side. This difficulty is 

 therefore met by a most extraordinary modification of the bones of the 

 head, by which means both the eyes are brought to that side which re- 

 mains uppermost, and are thereby enabled to command a wide view 

 around. There have been one or two instances where the eyes have 

 been placed one on each side, but these may be considered as simple 

 variations from the ordinary rule. 



The Common Sole is one of the most familiar of our British flat 

 fishes, and is found on all our coasts, those of the southern shores being 

 the most plentiful and attaining the largest dimensions. 



The Sole can be taken by the line, but the 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 bed of the 

 sea the great beam which edges the mouth scrapes the mud and sand, 



2 L 



