460 
YERTEBPvATA. 
THE PLAICE. 
It weighs from one to three pounds, and is esteemed tolerable food. In England it is called Butt 
and Flook. 
The Common Dab of Europe, P. 
limanda, is eight to twelve inches long ; 
feeds on Crustacea, small fish, and ma- 
rine insects; is often caught with 
j^laice and flounder, but is preferred 
to either for the table. Found on the 
European coasts ; abundant in the 
London markets. There are some 
other species, as the Smooth or Lemon 
Dab, p. microce])kahcSj called Sand- 
Flenk in Scotland; and the Long 
Rough Dab, P. Umandoides, called 
Sand-necker in Scotland : both found 
on the European coasts and somewhat 
rarely in British waters. 
The Pole or Craig Fluke, P. 
■pola^ is fifteen to twenty inches long ; 
color yellowish-brown ; found on the 
European coasts ; rare in England. 
There are several species of Platessa 
known on our coasts. The New 
York Flat-Fish, P. plana, is six to 
eighteen inches long; color variable, 
but usually pale greenish; highly 
prized for the table ; common in the 
New York market, where it is some- 
times called Winter-Flounder. 
The Pigmy Flat-Fish, P. pusilla, 
is five inches long ; is taken on our 
coasts, but is little valued for food. 
The Rusty Flat-Fish, P. ferruginea, 
is twelve to twenty inches long ; rare ; 
found in deep water. The New York 
Flounder, P. dentata, also called 
Toothed Flat-Fish, is about twenty 
inches long; is well flavored, and 
common hi our markets under the 
name of the Summer -Flounder. The 
Spotted or Oblong Flounder, P, 
ohlonga, is fifteen to twenty inches 
long; is common along our sandy 
shores, and is procured abundantly 
1^ in September and October. It is ex- 
cellent food, and like its congeners, 
^^^^ is tenacious of life, and can be pre- 
served in good condition for a long 
time. The Long-toothed Floun- 
der, P. ocellaris, is twelve to twenty 
THB POLE. inches long ; its flesh is savory ; found 
on our coasts in the summer months. 
CH-enus HIPPOGLOSSUS : Hippoglossus, includes the Halibut, H. vulgaris. This is a large 
THE JFLOUNDEK. 
THE COMMON DAB, 
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