FLAT-FISH; TURBOT, ETC. 67 



anus is thus brought very close to the head, and the abdominal 

 cavity is exceedingly small, so that the greater part of the body 

 of the Flat-fish consists of the compressed tail. These fishes 

 have no air-bladder, and they seem to have little power of rising 

 from the bottom. When disturbed, they will raise themselves 

 into a vertical position, so as to show their white sides; and 

 they then dart along with great rapidity ; but they soon return 

 to their usual posture, and glide along with a sort of undulating 

 motion, at a little distance from the bottom. The Flat-fishes 

 are very tenacious of life ; and the flesh of all of them is very 

 palatable. That of the Turbot is considered as the most delicate 

 afforded by any marine fish. Although most of the species are 

 exclusively marine, yet the Flounder and some others occasion- 

 ally ascend rivers, and thrive in brackish, or even in quite fresh 



water. The Plaice, Flounder^ 

 Turbot, Dab, Fluke, Brill, Sole] 

 and other well-known fish of 

 this family, are closely allied to 

 each other, both in structure 

 and habits ; and they are all in- 

 habitants of British seas. The 

 Halibut, also an inhabitant of 

 the Northern- seas, is larger than 

 any one of these, attaining a 



length of six or seven feet, and a weight of 400 or 500 Ibs. 

 Its flesh is rather coarse and dry, but it admits of being salted. 

 In some of the Mediterranean species, the eyes look towards the 

 left side, instead of towards the right; the latter, though the 

 ordinary rule of the family, is sometimes departed from in other 

 species ; the individuals that exhibit the unusual formation being 

 said to be " reversed." As an instance of the extent and im- 

 portance of the Fisheries, of which this family is the object, it 

 may be mentioned that the Dutch draw about 30,0001. per annum 

 for the supply of Turbot alone to the London market ; and it is 

 estimated that, of the whole quantity brought to Billingsgate, 

 the Dutch is not more than one-fourth. 



629. The Apodal species, or those in which the ventral fins 



