FAMILY P LEURONECTOIDA. FLAT FISH. 



121 



2. PHYCIS (Gr. <f>vi;ts, a jixh, so called from being supposed to live 

 among sea-weed). Pectoral beards short ; body longish and compressed ; 

 second dorsal fin generally as long as the first ; anal fins two ; ventrals 

 supported by a single ray, often bifurcated at its tip. 



1. PLATESSA (Gr. vXarvs, broad). Dorsal fin not extending further 

 forward than the upper eye, and as well as the anal fin separated by a gap 

 from the caudal ; in some the jaws are furnished with obtuse cutting teeth, 

 and the throat with teeth like paving-stones, in others the teeth of the jaws 

 are sharp, and those of the throat strong and pointed ; eyes generally on 

 the right side ; body rhomboidal. 



2. RHOMBUS (Gr. po^/Joc, a rftoraft, to which geometrical figure these 

 fish have a resemblance). Eyes mostly on the left side; delicate teeth on 

 the jaws and in the pharynx; body compressed, deep vertically ; dorsal fin 

 commencing near the edge of the upper jaw, and extending nearly to the 

 tail ; anal fin commencing almost immediately behind the ventrals, and 

 nearly reaching the tail. 



3. SOLEA (Lat. solum, the sole of a shoe). Both eyes and dark colour 

 on the right side ; mouth distorted to the left, on which side the head is 

 generally covered with cirrhi of greater or less length ; muzzle rounded, 

 and the upper jaw projecting more or less beyond the lower ; both jaws 

 furnished with delicate velvet-like teeth on the left side, but not on the 

 right : body oblong ; dorsal and anal fins extending to or nearly to the tail ; 

 in some species the pectoral fins extremely small. 



1. LEPADOGASTER (Gr. Xeiras, a shell, and yaintp, the leUy). Pectoral 

 fins double, the anterior and outer larger than the inner; ventrals also 

 double, connected by membrane at their base, so as to form a saucer-like 

 hollow ; both pectoral and ventral fins connected by membrane with each 

 other ; dorsal and anal fins single ; body scaleless and smooth ; head de- 

 pressed, sometimes cirrhated ; mouth prominent and extensile ; branchial 

 rays four or five. 



2. ECHKNKIS (Gr. 'i\tiv, to hold, and vave, a ship). Head surmounted 

 with a flat disc, composed of several pairs of moveable plates ; mouth 

 roundish, horizontal, lower jaw projecting, and furnished, as well as the 

 front of the upper jaw, with small teeth, set close, like a wool-card, whilst 

 those on the sides of the upper jaw are very fine, and ranged in a single 

 row ; eyes lateral ; branchiostegous rays eight ; body longish, the dorsal 

 fin single, soft, and opposite the anal. 



GADOIDA, PLEURONECTOIDA, DISCOBOLIDA. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 



GADOIDA Cod. This important genus has the body tapering, and 

 slightly compressed ; the head smooth and not scaly ; the jaws are fur- 

 nished with rows of teeth, and besides these a pair of processes on the 

 front of the vomer are covered with numerous sharp-pointed teeth, with 

 their points directed backwards ; the dorsal fins are generally either two 

 or three, but sometimes running into each other, so as to form a single fin. 

 These fish are furnished with a large air-bladder, which is commonly 

 known as the Sound. The structure of their teeth indicates their pre- 

 datory habits, and they are accordingly found living upon worms or small 

 fish of their own or other kinds. They form an important article of com- 

 merce, more especially when dried. They are divided into subgenera from 

 the number of their dorsal fins, viz. 1. Cods ; 2. Whitings ; 3. Hakes ; 

 4. Lings; 5. Recklings; 6. Torsks. 



The Common Cod-fish (G. Morrhua) is from two to four feet in length, 

 and weighs from fourteen to forty pounds. The larger fish are generally 

 coarse, and those of moderate size are most esteemed for the table. As tc 

 colour, the back and fins are ashy, spotted with yellow, and the belly 

 white ; the lateral line straight, broad, and white to the vent, but becoming 

 curved as it approaches the tail. Cod are most remarkably prolific ; accord- 

 ing to Lewenhoeck's patient examination, a middling-sized fish contains 

 nine millions three hundred and eighty-four thousand eggs. The Cod is found 

 only in the Northern Seas. The seasons for fishing are two : the first, or 

 shore season, begins on the 20th of April, and ends on the 10th of October, 

 when the boats fish in water from four to twenty fathoms; the second, or 



bank season, begins in May and ends with September, when the boats ti-h 

 in water from thirty to forty fathoms. 



PHYCIS Fork-beard. This genus is distinguished from the Common 

 Fork-beard by its first dorsal tin being rounded, and not higher than the 

 second ; it measures from twelve to twenty inches in length, and is of a 

 blackish-brown colour. It is found in the Mediterranean, and is considered 

 good eating, and is common at Ivica, where it is called Mdlera. 



Other genera of this family : Lepidoleprus, Macrourous, Raniceps. 



PLATESSA Plaice ; Flounder. The individuals composing this genus 

 have been divided into two sections, viz., 1. With the throat teeth blunt and 

 ranged like a pavement ; and 2. With the throat teeth strong and pointed. 



The Plaice (P. Vulgaris) is about three times as long as it is in 

 depth, and weighing from eight to nine pounds, and occasionally as much 

 as fifteen pounds ; between the eyes is a 

 row of six tubercles, extending back to 

 the commencement of the lateral line ; 

 ocular side of the body clear brown, 

 marked with bright orange spots, the 

 other side white. The best are caught 

 off the Sussex and Dutch coasts, although 

 generally in the North Sea and in the 

 Baltic. They feed on small fish, espe- 

 cially also on mussels and young cockles. They spawn early in February. 



RHOMBUS Turbot, Ray. This genus, which formed part of the Linnaan 

 Pleuronectes, till separated from it by Cuvier, is distinguished from the 

 Soles by not having the mouth twisted 

 to one side, and from the Flounders by 

 the great length of their dorsal fin. All 

 of them are predaceous, feeding upon 

 small fish, crustaceous and molluscous 

 animals. They are divided into two 

 sections from the position of their eyes 

 and the form of their tail. 



The species named Whiff (R. Cardina vel Megastoma) is figured on 

 Plate 8. This fish is of an oblong form, measuring eighteen inches in 

 length by seven wide, and has some resemblance to the Halibut. It is 

 covered with large rough scales, and has the lateral line very much curved 

 at its origin, and after making a sharp angle runs straight on to the tail. 

 The upper surface is ashy-brown marked with white and blackish spots ; 

 the under white tinged with red. It is caught in the British Channel. 



SOLEA Sole. This genus is distinguished from the Plaice (Platessa) 

 by having no bony tubercles on the skin ; from the Halibuts (Hippoglossus) 

 by the small size of the teeth in its jaws ; from the Turbots (Rhombus) by 

 its eyes being on the right side, and the dorsal fin not commencing so far 

 forward, and both it and the anal reaching to the tail ; and from the Achirus 

 by having pectoral fins. 



The Common Sole (S. Vulgaris) varies from twelve to eighteen inches in 

 length, and its greatest breadth not equal to half its length ; length of the 

 head half the breadth of the body; eyes small, the lower immediately 

 above the corner of the mouth, their brides yellow ; the rays simple, com- 

 pressed, and covered with scales the greater part of their length ; pectoral 

 fins just behind the upper part of the branchial opening, narrow, rounded, 

 and their middle rays longest ; ventral fins very small and just in front of 

 the vent ; anal corresponding to the dorsal, but not commencing till oppo- 

 site the root of the pectoral ; caudal fin slightly rounded ; lateral line 

 arched on the head, and thence running straight to the tail ; upper surface 

 brown, and the scales edged with a deep tinge, giving a reticular appear- 

 ance ; under surface white ; tip of the upper pectoral fin black. The Com- 

 mon Sole is found extending from the Scandinavian and Baltic Seas 

 southward, and along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts into the Mediter- 

 ranean, and also on the American coast ; it is also commonly found on the 

 Scotch, Irish, and English coasts, but those on the southern and western 

 coasts are most esteemed both on account of their size and flavour. 



The Turbot. 



