63 NATURAL HISTORY. 



all the flat fish, and happily is still found in great abundance. On the north-east coast of England 

 there is a large Turbot fishery. The fishing commences in May, and on the Continental coast is 

 largely engaged in by the Dutch. The fish migrate eastward to the mouth of the Elbe, where they are 

 caught until the middle of August. In shallow water, and at the beginning of the season, they are 

 taken with the trawl net, but later, when they have retired with other flat fish into deep water, they 

 are fished for with the long line, the hooks being baited with smelt or a fish called the Gorebill. A 

 large proportion of the Turbot supplied to the London market is caught by Dutch fishermen, and most 



of the Lobsters served with them in sauce are 

 brought by Danes from the rocky coast of Norway. 

 Good Turbot banks exist in the English Channel 

 to the west of Dover, and along the Devonshire 

 coast Turbot are taken by trawling. The number 

 of Turbot brought to Billingsgate in a year is pro- 

 bably not far short of a hundred thousand. The 

 Turbot is a migratory fish, travelling in companies 

 where the bottom is sandy. It feeds chiefly on 

 small fish, crabs, and shells, but the bait used is 

 always some small fish of bright colour and tena- 

 cious of life, because, though voracious, the Turbot 

 never touch bait unless it is perfectly fresh. Occasion- 

 ally both sides of the Turbot are of a dark colour, 

 and though the eyes are usually on the right side, 

 TTTRPOT. they are sometimes found on the left side of the 



body. It is recorded that on one occasion the 



Roman Senate was convoked to advise the Emperor Domitian as to the sort of vessel in which 

 a monster Turbot that had been brought to him should be cooked. 



On the English coasts Turbot usually weigh from five to ten pounds, though large fish range 

 from twenty to thirty pounds, and one was taken near Plymouth which weighed seventy pounds. 

 An allied species (Rhombus mwoticus) occurs in the Black Sea. 



The Brill (Rhombus Icevis) is widely distributed round the coasts of Europe. It wants the 

 firmness and delicacy of flavour of the Turbot, but is largely consumed in the London market. 

 Its weight seldom exceeds eight pounds. Its food and habits are veiy similar to those of the 

 Turbot. It is a narrower, longer fish, and there is no elongation of the fin-rays in the middle of 

 the body. It never possesses the bony tubercles which characterise the Turbot, but in place of them 

 has the coloured surface covered with small distinct scales. 



The Whiflf, Mary Sole, or Sail Fluke (Rhombus megastomci) in calm weather rises to the surface 

 of the sea, and elevates its tail oxit of the water like a sail, when it drifts towards the land. It 

 burrows at once into the sand, but is usually detected by a Gull, which pounces upon it, and 

 taking out the liver with a stroke of his beak, drags the fish to some rock, whei-e it is eaten at 

 leisure. The Flukes are often followed into shore by Seals. It is said to be the most delicious fish 

 of British seas, but is rarely obtained. Its length is about twenty-one inches, and breadth over the 

 fins ten inches ; the weight from three to four pounds. Dr. Giinther draws no distinction between 

 the Sail Fluke and the Mary Sole, or Carter, but Couch, not without reason, regards the Mary Sole, 

 which is common on the English south coast, as a distinct species. The variety called the Carter has a 

 length of eighteen inches, and a depth, exclusive of the fins, of six inches. The body is much less 

 oblong than in the Fluke. Its colour is yellowish-brown. All the bones are thinner and more 

 delicate in this species than in the Turbot or Brill. The ventral fins are free from the anal fin. 



The Topknot (RJiambus punctatus) is a species met with along the English Channel, and 

 extending to the coasts of the north of Europe. It is a comparatively small species, not exceeding 

 six inches in length and four in width. The dorsal and anal fins extend under the tail without 

 meeting there. The scales are very small, but there are spines upon them which make the coloured 

 surface rough. The eyes are separated by a narrow ridge ; the ventral fin is continuous with the 

 anal fin. On the body, which is brown, are round black spots one usually placed behind the 



