HAKE. LING.PLAICE. 111 



much esteemed for the lightness of its delicate flesh. On the 

 coast of Britany it is salted and dried like the cod. 



6. The HAKES, Merluccius, have no cirri, and differ from the 

 cods in the number of their fins ; they have but two dorsal fins, 

 and one posterior to the anus. The Common Hake, (if adits 

 mcrluccius, is from one to two feet in length, and sometimes 

 much longer ; the back is brown gray ; the anterior dorsal fin 

 pointed ; lower ja\v longest. The Hake is taken in great numbers, 

 both in the Mediterranean and Atlantic ; it is usually found in 

 pursuit of mackerel shoals ; when salted and dried, it receives, in 

 the north, the name of stock-fish, which is also applied to the cod. 



7. The Lings, Lota, have a greater or less number of cirri, 

 and the same fins as the Hakes. They are almost as numerous 

 as the cod in the northern seas. The Common Ling differs from 

 other Gadoides in the almost cylindrical form of its body, in its 

 depressed head and habits : it is the only fish of this family that 

 ascends rivers into fresh water. Its flesh is mucn esteemed. 



8. The FAMILY OP PLEURONECTES, comprises what are vulgarly 

 called the Flat-Fishes; these animals have the body very much 

 compressed laterally, and very much elevated vertically ; but what 

 especially distinguishes them is a want of symmetry in the head, 

 a character which is not observed in 



any other vertebrate animal, (Fig. 

 54.) Both eyes are placed on the 

 same side, which is always upper- 

 most when the animal swims, and is 

 always deeply coloured, while the 

 opposite side is always whitish. The 

 two sides of the mouth are unequal, 

 and it is rare to find both pectoral fins FLAT-FISH. 



perfectly alike ; the dorsal fin extends along the whole back ; the 

 anal fin occupies the lower part of the body, and the ventrals seem 

 to be continuous with it in front, as they are almost united one 

 to the other. They want the swimming-bladder, swim on the 

 side, and seldom quit the bottom. 



9. The principal genera of this family, are the Plaice, the 

 Turbot, and the Sole. 



10. The PLAICE, Platessa, have in each jaw, a row of 

 cutting, and obtuse teeth ; most generally, the pharyngeal bones 



6. How are Hakes characterised? What are the characters of the com- 

 mon Hake ? 



7. How are Lings characterised? 



8. What are the peculiarities of the family of Pleuronectes ? 



9. What are the principal genera of this family ? 

 10. What are the characters of Plaice ? 



