112 PLAICE. FLOUNDER. HOLIBUT.-TURBOT. _ 



are furnished with teeth like pebbles ; the dorsal fin extends as 

 far forward as a point above the upper eye, leaving a naked 

 interval between it and the caudal fin ; their form is rhomboidal, 

 and most frequently their eyes are on the right side. 



11. The Common Plaice, Platessa platessa, is easily recog- 

 nised by six or seven tubercles, forming a straight line on the 

 right side of the head, between the eyes, and by the pale yellow 

 spots which relieve the brown on the same side of the body ; it is 

 three times as long as it is high, and its scales are thin and soft. 

 Its flesh is very tender and much esteemed : its weight sometimes 

 reaches sixteen pounds. It is common on the coasts of France, 

 and abounds on those of Holland. 



12. The Flounder, Platessa flesiis, resembles the common 

 plaice, but only has small granules between the eyes, and has a 

 small rough button at the base of each ray of the dorsal and anal 

 fins. It inhabits our coast, and ascends rivers. In many indi- 

 viduals the eyes are on the left, instead of the right side of the head. 



13. The Limande, or Dah, Platessa Limanda, has a pro- 

 jecting line between the'eyes, and a body which is comparatively 

 higher than it is long. Its scales are rougher than in any of the 

 preceding species, from which circumstance it has derived its 

 name, (from Lima, a file) ; the teeth are straighter; and the side 

 upon which the eyes are placed is light brown with some faded 

 brown and whitish spots. 



14. The Holibut, Hippoglossus vulgaris, or Platessa Hippo- 

 glo*sn8, has the form and fins of a Platessa, but the jaws and 

 pharynx are armed with teeth, which are most commonly strong 

 and pointed. The eyes are on the right side. It is a voracious 

 fish, and is found in the northern seas, and our own coast. It is 

 taken with a line, and sometimes weighs five hundred pounds. 



miis ' has a rhomboidal body, almost 

 as high as it is long, and studded on 

 the brown side with small tubercles; 

 the eyes are close together, and there 

 is a projecting crest between them. 

 It is probably the most valuable of 

 the flat-fishes, and excepting the 

 TURBOT. holibut, grows larger than any of 



the others. It is highly prized in England. It is also met with 



on our own coast. 



11. How is the common Plaice recognised ? 



12. How is the Flounder characterised ? 



13. What are the characters of the Limande? 



14. What are the characters of the Holibut? 



15. What are the characters of the Turbot? 



