152 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



yellowish brown, marbled with a darker tint. 

 Its surface is very slimy. 



Passing over several fish of little general 

 interest, as the rocklings, the torsk, the fork- 

 beards, etc., we may advance to the family of 

 flat fish, as they are commonly termed, (Pleuro- 

 nectidce,) from their peculiar shape. Unlike 

 the rays, which are flattened vertically, these 

 fish are flattened laterally, that is, from side 

 to side the brown surface of a sole, for ex- 

 ample, is only one side, and the white surface, 

 on which it reposes, another side and the 

 head is as if it had been wrenched round and 

 crushed flat in a distorted position. When the 

 sole, on any sudden alarm, swims rapidly, it 

 raises itself so as to show the white as well as 

 the brown side, and shoots along. The flesh of 

 many of these flat-fish is in high esteem. The 

 habits of these fishes are in accordance with 

 their form ; they prefer tranquil bays, sand- 

 banks, and spots where the water is muddy ; 

 as they lie flat on the white side, the position 

 of their eyes gives them a great range of 

 vision, and enables them to watch for their 

 prey ; while the brown or dark colour of their 

 exposed side, blending with that of the bed 

 around them, tends to their own concealment. 

 These fish are mostly in shoals, and when they 



