Luxuries in Disaulises. 431 
THE FLATFISH FAMILY. (Plewronectide.) 
Scale of Inches. 
Friatrisu Famtry.—l. The Turbot, Rhombus maximus. 2. Oblong Flounder, Platessa 
oblonga. 3. The Plaice, Platessa vulgaris (similar in form to the Rust; Dab of our 
coasts). 4. The Halibut, Hippoglossus vulgaris. 5. Common Sole, Solea vulgaris. 
The turbot of Europe is regarded as the aldermanie fish, 
answering to our sheepshead. Both the sole and turbot are 
great delicacies, and even luxuries. Boiled sole, served in a 
napkin on a hot plate, with cauliflower as a vegetable, and 
fresh drawn-butter, is not easily refused by the most pam- 
pered epicure. These fishes are generally taken with the 
hand-line and with the deep-sea casting-net. The meat of 
the sole is very white, and the taste pure and of delicate fla- 
yor. It is said to feed in deep waters along chalk clitts. 
Fishes 2 and 3 are the common flounder and the fluke. The 
lower jaw of the flounder is on the right side of the head, and 
that of the fluke on the left side. These are among the first 
biting fishes of the early spring season in most of the estua- 
ries on the Atlantic coast. They are excellent fishes, but 
not sufficiently known or appreciated by epicures. 
Until within the past ten years, it was supposed that nei- 
ther the turbot nor the sole inhabited waters along the Atlan- 
