202 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS IV. PISCES. 
weighing twenty pounds are not unfrequent. Body elongated, with small 
seales, perfectly smooth. Left side of a reddish-gray color, with large, cir- 
cular, oval, or oblong blotches of a darker color, surrounded with a lighter 
margin, and also numerous white spots, which are more obvious upon the 
fins. Right side white, without spots. Upper eye slightly back of the 
under, in a vertical line. Eyes moderate in size, oblong; pupils blue- 
black; irides silvery; distance between the eyes equal to the longest diam- 
eter of the eye. Orbits, space in front of the eyes, jaws, spotted with dull 
bluish spots. Gape of the mouth large; jaws equal in length, and armed 
with a single row of separated, quite large, sharp teeth; the front ones 
much the largest. A protuberance at the chin. Nostrils three lines in front 
of the eyes. Gill-covers extend back of the eyes, nearly two and a half inches. 
The lateral line makes a high arch over the pectorals previous to assuming 
its straight course to the tail; the top of this arch is more than one inch 
above the straight line. 
Achivus. —In this group of the Plewronectide both eyes and color are 
on the right side; the mouth distorted on the side opposite the eyes; small 
teeth in both jaws, but confined to the under side only; form of the body 
oblong; dorsal and anal fins extend to the tail; there are no pectorals. 
A. Mollis, —TVhe Sole. This species is called the New York Sole, and 
is found in the waters in the vicinity of that city.. It is considered a nutri- 
tious and wholesome fish, and in color and size does not differ from the 
S. vulgaris (common Sole of Cuvier), being from six to eight inches in 
length, and of a dark-brown color, and white beneath. 
Discopout. Third Family of Malacopterygtt Sub-brachiati. 
The two principal genera are the following, both of which are found in 
American waters : — 
Lumrus. —The head and body are thick and short; the back has an 
elevated ridge; the pectoral fins unite under the throat, and, with the ven- 
trals, form a single disk. . 
L. Vulgaris. —The Lump-Sucker. This fish is remarkable for the 
aflection, so unusual in fishes, which it manifests towards its progeny. The 
male keeps watch over the deposited ova, and guards them from every foe 
with the utmost courage. If driven from the spot by man, he does not go 
far, but is continually looking back, and in a short time returns. Thus we 
are constantly finding among the inferior animals glimpses of a higher 
nature, which prove that all created beings form a continuous chain, linked 
together by one all-pervading and all-mighty Power. 
The sucking organ, by which it adheres to foreign substances, is on the 
top of the head, and consists of several plates. 
