232 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



fins of the same colour as the body. In some examples 

 the yellow colour is entirely lost after they have been a 

 few weeks in alcohol, leaving the fish grey, marbled with 

 darker. 



Habits. Frequents sandy bottoms, and appears to be 

 captured throughout the year. 



Means of capture. Usually by the trawl ; it has been 

 thought by some authors that it prefers deeper water than 

 the common sole. 



As food. It is not in request for the table, being taste- 

 less and wanting in firmness, but is occasionally slipped in 

 amongst such as have been prepared for filleting at the 

 fishmongers. 



Habitat. From the shores of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 through the Mediterranean, and is found off Nice and 

 Naples. Rare in Banffshire ; found in Northumberland ; 

 resident and not uncommon in Yorkshire ; found off 

 Sussex. Occasional in Devonshire ; rare in Cornwall ; off 

 Somersetshire ; occasionally taken in the weirs at Swansea. 



In Ireland numerous examples were captured from one 

 place off Galway in 1 848. 



It attains to 14 inches in length (Buckland). 



B. Pectoral fins on both sides very small. 

 The Thickback (Solea variegata). 



Names. Thickback, Devonshire, so termed owing to its 



being thicker than the common sole ; bastard sole, Wey- 



mouth. It was first observed from our coast by Donovan, 



in April, 1807, when it was brought to Billingsgate Market. 



B. vii., D. 65-74, V. 5, A. 55-58, L. 1, 85-90, Vert. & 



Length of head 5-J- to 5-f; height of body 3^ to 3| in the 



