THE PLAICE. 
193 
Mr. Yarrell, in dwelling upon the manifold evidences of design in the 
P lei ( rone ctidce, or flat-fishes, remarks, “ having little or no means of de- 
fence, had their colour been placed only above the lateral line on each 
side (i. e. in accordance with its disposition on ordinarily formed fishes), in 
whatever position they moved, their piebald appearance would have ren- 
dered them conspicuous objects to all their enemies,” — vol. ii. p. 298, 2nd 
ed. Even further than this provision is made for their safety, at least when 
in a young state. My friend Dr. J. L. Drummond informs me that he has 
particularly remarked young plaice in Larne Lough to accord in colour 
with the bottom which they frequent, viz. those on a sandy bottom 
being of the colour of the sand, and those on muddy ground the colour 
of the mud — in each case being hardly distinguishable except when in 
motion. 
Mr. Yarrell (vol. ii. 304) notices flounders so changing; and, it may be 
presumed, of all sizes. 
Some friends resident in Banffshire and other parts of the eastern coast 
of Scotland have informed me that the plaice (so called by them) is held 
in such little estimation that they never saw it brought to table. It how- 
ever served another purpose, as all the examples that were available were 
opened for the beautiful shells found in their stomachs. Some of these, 
which were preserved and kindly sent me by C. G. M. Skinner, Esq., 
were finely coloured examples of the Pecten obsuletus. Mr. S. remarks, 
that these shells have been obtained from the stomach of the plaice in 
the Moray Firth, and on the E. coast of Scotland generally.* 
Mr. B. Meenan considers that trawling has diminished the number of 
fishes of all kinds that spawn where the trawl is used, although ground 
that has been dredged over is the best to shoot lines on for cod-fish, &c., 
as the latter go there to feed, in consequence, apparently, of food being 
turned up. On “ foul ground ” great numbers of flat-fish are taken along 
the Antrim and Down coasts on long lines. Lug-worms and pieces of the 
flesh of conger-eels and herrings, especially the latter, are used for bait. 
The Bev. G. M. Black told me, that by trawling on a forenoon in the 
summer of 1842, at Red Bay (Co. Antrim), he took upwards of four 
hundred good-sized plaice ; they were captured on a beautifully clean 
sandy bottom, the net coming up pure as possible. 
With reference to the season at which the plaice spawns, I may men- 
tion that on 1 Jan., 1835, an example only 3 inches in length was sent to 
me from the Down coast. I have examined specimens 2 inches in length, 
and found them to agree in fin-rays and all other characters of form with 
the adult fish. 
Food. My notes on the food found in plaice are as follow : 
Of specimens taken in Belfast Bay, July, 1838. Stomach and intestines 
of a plaice examined by Dr. J. L. D. and myself, crammed with Tellina 
tenuis, with the exception of one or two fragments of minute shells of 
Mactra solida. Same month one examined filled entirely with shells of 
the Mytilus edulis about 4 an inch in length. Auyust , contents the same. 
March 39 th. Of two individuals examined, one was entirely filled with 
the young of Mytilus edulis, of which the examples only two or three lines 
in length displayed the dark blue stripes from apex to base of shell, that 
* The Clams ( Pectenidce ) are rare with us, excepting the small P. obsoletus, 
which is the favourite food of the flounder, from the stomach of which many 
specimens can generally be obtained. — Dr. Johnston, Bene. Nat. Club, 1835, 
p. 80. 
o 
