PLATE XCLV.’ 
The Flounder inhabits both the salt and fresh waters, and is found 
‘^'Itially in the North and Baltic Seas, and in the larger rivers that have 
^'-'oess to the sea. It inhabits likewise, many parts of the British Seas, 
rivers, the Thames especially, where at certain seasons, asspring, 
autumn, they are taken in great plenty. Those ibund in the 
are larger and more robust than such as are caught in the rivers, 
the latter are preferable for the table. It is observed, that the 
Pi 
Sunder never attains to any considerable size in the rivers, or even 
Ae open sea ; the largest mentioned by Pennant, Bloch, and others, 
'''Sighed no more than six pounds ; we once saw a Flounder that 
''’righed between four and five pounds, after having a great portion 
file lower half of the back bitten off by a shark, or some other 
''°tacious fish : it was caught on the shore of the Irish channel, and is 
largest we ever saw. In the beginning of November 1800, a 
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lounder of uncommon magnitude is said to have been captured upon 
1^ tluddon sands, I..ancashire, that weighed forty five pounds, and 
''measured fre m the nose to the extremity of the tail, four feet and an 
*'^t;h. Whether this enormous fish differed specifically from our 
^°tT»nion Flounder cannot be determined, we repeat it on popular 
‘^Port, admitting only the probability of such an extraordinary cir- 
'^“‘lastance. 
Tl • • 
lie varieties of the common Flounder, in point of colour, are 
numerous beyond example, than in any other species, insomucli 
it is scarcely possible to find even two exactly corresponding. 
prevailing colour on the upper surface is brown, and the lower 
Sometimes the former is marbled with silvery white : with, 
fe tinged with yellowish, or of a rosy hue: in others, either of the 
latter t’ 
nnts constitute the ground colour, and the spots are brown of 
*°ns hues. Those having either the anterior or posterior half of a 
IV. H 
