-Xulea imlynris 



interesting to watch one of the common flat fishes, such as the plaice or the sole, swim with 

 serpentine ease and elegance, and then suffer itself to sink slowly to the bottom, where it 

 sits, with raised head and watchful eyes. 



It is evident that if the eyes of the flat fishes were placed in the manner customary 

 among the finny race, one eye would be rendered useless as long as the fish was lying 

 upon its side. This difficulty is therefore met by a most extraordinary modification of 

 the bones of the head, by which means both the eyes are brought to that side which 

 remains uppermost, and are thereby enabled to command a wide view around. There 

 have been one or two instances where the eyes have been placed one on each side, but 

 these may be considered as simple variations from the ordinary rule. 



The COMMON SOLE is one of the most familiar of our British flat fishes, and is found on 

 .all our coasts, those of the southern shores being the most plentiful, and attaining the 

 largest dimensions. 



The Sole can be taken by the line, but the fishermen always use the trawl-net, a kind 

 of huge dredge, with a mouth that often exceeds thirty feet in width. As these nets are 

 drawn along the bed of the sea, the great beam which edges the mouth scrapes the mud 

 and sand, and alarms the fish to such an extent that they dash wildly about, and mostly 

 dart into the net, whence they never escape. Vast numbers of Soles are taken by this 

 method of fishing, and as the trawls bring to the surface enormous quantities of crustaceans, 

 molluscs, zoophytes, and other marine inhabitants, the energetic naturalist cannot employ 

 his time better than in taking a sail in one of these boats, and enduring a few hours' 

 inconvenience for the sake of the rich harvest which he is sure to reap. Some of the rarest 

 and most valuable British animals have been taken in the trawl-nets. 



The Sole is in condition throughout the greater part of the year, the only time when 

 it is not worth eating being from the end of February to the last week in March, when the 

 fishes are full of roe, and the flesh is rather soft and watery. It is a hardy fish, and can 

 ?oon be acclimatized to live in fresh water ; and it is said that under such circumstances 

 the fish can be readily fattened, and becomes nearly twice as thick as when bred in the 



