THE PLAICE. 153 



move along leisurely, a little elevated above the 

 bed on which they repose, they continue in 

 their horizontal position ; but when the shoal 

 takes fright, all, at the same instant, show the 

 white side, and dart forward vdih arrow- 

 like velocity for a certain distance, but soon 

 again settle into their previous position. They 

 are essentially ground-fish, and their food con- 

 sists chiefly of small crustncea, marine insects, 

 mollusks, etc., which they obtain in abundance. 

 They are very tenacious of life ; and some 

 species may be seen leaping on the board of 

 the fishmonger, in London and its precincts. 



Of these flatfishes the plaice {Platissa vulga- 

 ris) is well-known ; it is abundant on the Eng- 

 lish coast, wherever sand-banks and muddy 

 beds invite its residence ; it is taken both 

 with the line and the trawl-net. In Scotland, 

 the smaller sized plaice are termed fleuks ; 

 those taken on a particular station off the 

 Sussex coast, remarkable for the brilliancy of 

 their orange red spots, are termed diamond plaice, 

 and the station is called the diamond ground. 

 The plaice occasionally grows to the weight of 

 ten, twelve, or fourteen poimds, but the 

 average size varies from one to three or four 

 pounds. Bushels are brought into the London 

 market, and have sometimes been sold at a 



