CLASS V. PISCES: OEDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 
459 
ill 
MULLER S TOPKNOT. 
The Megkim or Smooth Sole, R. Arnoglossus, seldom exceeds four or five inches m length. 
It is sometimes called Scald'Fish. 
Found as the preceding. 
Genus SOLEA : Solea, includes the 
Common Sole of Europe, S. vulgaris, 
ten to tweuty-six inches long, and 
weighing from one to ten pounds ; it 
inhabits sandy shores in deep water, 
being taken by the trawl-net, and 
not by the hook. It feeds on testace- 
ous anijnals, and the spawn and fry 
of other fishes. It is one of the very 
best of European fishes, and is taken 
in gTeat quantities along tlie coast, es- 
pecially in the British islands. Eighty- 
six thousand bushels of soles were re- 
ceived at Billingsgate marlcet, London, 
in a single yeai'. The fishing-season 
is from May to N'ovember, The prin- 
% cipal trawling-ground in England is on 
I the south coast from Sussex to Devon- 
^ shire. This fish thrives well in fresh 
Avater. Found in the European seas; 
common in the markets of London 
and Paris. 
The French or Lemon-Sole, >S'. 
pegusa^ and the Variegated Sole, 
Monochirus linguatidus, are other Eu- 
ropean, though rare species. 
Genus ACHIRUS : Achirus, in- 
chides the New York Sole, A. mollis, 
three to six inches long ; common on 
the coast from Nantucket to Carolina. 
They are taken on our coasts in Sep- 
tember and October, and are delicate 
food, but are too small to be of any 
great importance. The Jersey fisher- 
men call them Calico and Cover clip. 
They often ascend the Hudson to a 
distance of forty miles. 
Genus PLATESSA : Flatessa, in- 
cludes the Plaice, P. vulgaris, weigh- 
ing six to twelve pounds ; it feeds on 
mollusca, Crustacea, and young fish ; in- 
habits sandy banks and muddy grounds 
in the sea; is sometimes taken with 
hooks and sometimes with spears, 
though more generally with trawl- 
nets. It is highly esteemed as food. It is common on the European coasts, and is sometimes 
very abundant. Enormous quantities are taken and consmned in Great Britain. 
The Common Flounder op Europe, P.Jlesus, is found at the mouths of nearly all the Euro- 
pean rivers, and is especially abundant where the bottom is soft and muddy. It lives and 
thrives in salt, fresh, and brackish water; feeds on aquatic insects, worms, and small fishes. 
,,/////., 
THE WHIFB'. 
THE SMOOTH SOLE. 
Ms 
THE COMMOS SOLE OF EUROPE. 
