176 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
transparent scarlet varnish, spangled with silver spots of va- 
rious sizes. The mouth of this fish is exceedingly small for 
its size. 
The Flounder is a very extensive genus, including those 
innumerable species which are known by the common term, 
flat Ash, and which are distinguished from all others by one 
invariable characteristic, viz. that of having both the eyes 
on the same side of the head. 
The Hollibul is by much the largest of the genus, weigh- 
ing commonly from one hundred to three hundred pounds. 
The hollibut is the most voracious of fishes, and has been 
known to swallow even the lead which seamen make use of 
for the purpose of sounding the depth. Its back is a dusky 
colour, its belly pure white. The flesh is very coarse and 
indifferent food. It is the narrowest fish in proportion to 
its length of any of this genus, except the sole. 
The Phase is sometimes known to weigh fifteen pounds. 
It is easily distinguished by the upper part of the body, 
which is dusky, being marked with large orange-coloured 
spots. 
The Flounder , or Fluke , may be easily known from every 
other fish of this genus, by a row of sharp small spines, 
which surround its upper sides, and are just placed where 
the fins join to the body. It frequents our rivers, where 
it may be termed a fish of passage, generally repairing 
thither at certain seasons to deposit its spawn. The back 
is of a pale brown, sometimes marked with a few obscure 
spots. 
The Dab is found often along with the flounder, but is 
less common. It is smaller than either the plaise or the 
flounder, but is more esteemed as food, 'file back is gene- 
rally of a uniform brown colour, sometimes clouded with 
a darker. It is in season from February to April. 
The Sole is a well-known fish, which sometimes is found 
of the weight of six or seven pounds. On the northern 
coasts it is much smaller. 
The smooth Sole, or Lanthern Fish, is almost peculiar 
to the coast of Cornwall. It is thin, white, and almost 
pellucid. 
The Turbot is the most celebrated of all this genus, and 
i has been known to grow to the weight of thirty pounds. 
The turbot fishery is of considerable importance to the 
Dutch. The mode of conducting it is the same with that 
employed for taking the ray, and has already been minutely 
described. 
