CLASS V. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 



457 



Genus MOTELLA : Motella. — To this belongs the Three-bearded Rockling, M. vuhjaria. It is 



twelve to fifteen iiielus long, frequents 

 rocky ground, feeds on aquatic insects, 

 takes bait, but is not used for food, as 

 the flesh smells unpleasantly in a short 

 period after it is out of the water. 

 Found in Europe. The Five-bearded 

 Rockling, M. quinquecirrata, is also a 

 European species. 



The Mackerel Midge, M.f/lauca^ is a 

 beautiful little fish, an inch and a quarter 

 long; it dies instantly on being taken 

 out of the water. From its minute 

 size and the multitudes in wdiicli it ap- 

 peared, it was formerly thought to be 

 produced by spontaneous generation 

 from the froth of the sea, or the putri- 

 faction of marine substances. 



The Silvery-Gade, M. argenteola, 

 is two inches long. This and the pre- 

 ceding species are common in Europe. 



THE GREAT FOKKED-BEARD. 



THE THREE-BEARDED ROCKLING. 



THE PLEURONECTIDiE. 



This term, derived from the Greek, pleuron, side, and neko, to swim, means fishes that swim 

 on the side, and is applied to those which are usually called Flat-fish. They are very peculiar in 

 their appearance and form. They have a broad, flat body, margined almost throughout by long 



,^.,-:^'.-^ dorsal and anal fins ; the head is 



^^!^ 





singularly twisted, so that the 

 eyes are both brought to one side 

 of the body, and this, which is al- 

 ways uppermost, is usually of a dark 

 color, and frequently spotted, whilst 

 the opposite is always white. These 

 surfaces arc often regarded as the 

 back and belly of the fish, but incor- 

 rectly; the gill openings and the 

 paired fins being situated on both 

 surfaces, the pectorals a little behind 

 the apertures of the gills, and the 

 ventrals in front of those on the 

 throat. The abdominal cavity is 

 very small, and the anus opens under 

 the throat, so that the wdiole body 

 is nothing but an exceedingly com- 

 pressed, disc-like tail. The mouth is small, and armed with small teeth, and in most species the 

 skin is covered with ctenoid scales. 



The Flat-fishes swim with the dark side uppermost, and with a sort of undulating motion of 

 the whole body ; they generally keep close to the bottom, where they feed upon small fishes, mol- 

 lusca, worms, Crustacea, tfcc. Some species attain a large size; the Halibut is said sometimes to 

 weigh as much as five hundred pounds ; a specimen, measuring seven feet six inches in length, 

 three feet six inches in breadth, and weighing three hundred and twenty pounds, was taken in 

 April, 1828, off the Isle of Man, and sent to the Edinburgh market. The Turbot does not appear 

 Vol. II. — 58. 



THE TURCOT. 



