SUB-BRACHIAN MALACOPTERYGII. 161 



confined in their movements to the neighbourhood 

 of the bottom, where they generally swim but slowly ; 

 but if suddenly alarmed, they shoot rapidly along for 

 a short distance in a vertical position, displaying the 

 white surface if the observer happen to be on that 

 side, but they immediately sink down flat and mo- 

 tionless as before. Most of the species are very 

 good food, and some of them are scarcely paralleled 

 in exquisite flavour and delicacy. 



Platessa,* the Plaice. 



In this genus the eyes are on the right side of 

 the head : the dorsal begins over the upper eye, 

 but neither it nor the anal quite reaches the tail- 

 fin: each jaw has a row of teeth, and there are 

 some in the throat. The common Plaice (P. Vul- 

 garis) is well known in every fish-market, and is 

 easily distinguished by the bright orange spots which 

 diversify its dark-brown hue. Its flesh is esteemed, 

 and it is caught in great numbers by the hook, 

 the trawl-net, and the barbed spear. It has been 

 known to attain the weight of fifteen pounds, but 

 half that weight is considered great. The Flounder 

 (P. Flesus) is much smaller than the Plaice, and is 

 not so highly prized. It is more subject than any 

 other Flat-fish to accidental variation, specimens 

 being occasionally seen white on both sides, others 

 coloured on both sides, while those which are 

 " turned" having the colour and eyes on the left 



s, broad. 



