THE LEMON SOLE AND LUMP-SUCKER. 159 



soles, and extensive sole fishery. The sole will 

 live and thrive in fresh water, and numbers 

 reside and breed in the brackish water of the 

 Arun, from its mouth to a distance up the 

 stream of five miles. They are said to be of 

 excellent quality. These Arun soles are re- 

 ported to bury themselves in the sand, or mud, 

 during the cold months ; the season for trawl- 

 ing for them extending from May to November. 



An allied species, the lemon sole, (Solea 

 pegusa,) first described by Mr. Yarrell, is occa- 

 sionally taken off the Sussex coast ; it is wider 

 in proportion, and thicker than the common 

 sole, and its colour is a light brown, with a 

 mixture of orange yellow. 



Another rare species is the variegated sole, 

 (Monochirus linguatulus,) which has been cap- 

 tured on three or four occasions. 



In the shops of the London fishmongers, a 

 strange-looking, rounded fish may often be seen 

 exposed to view. It is of a dark blue colour, 

 varied with pale blue and purple, the lips and 

 under surface being of a rich orange. This 

 fish is called the lump-sucker, or sea-owl, 

 (Cydopterus lumpus,) and belongs to the family 

 termed Cyclopteridce. It possesses the power 

 of adhering with great tenacity to rocks or 

 stones, by means of its pectoral and ventral 



