199 
SOLEA. 
Foem of the body oblong, the front rounded; C3''es towards the right; 
mouth twisted toward the blind side, with teeth only towards that 
side. Lateral line straight. Pectoral fins on both sides of the body. 
The fishes of this genus, like some others of this curiously-formed 
familj', have received their name from the general appearance of their 
shape, as distinguished in their general outline. Thus the Common 
Sole is regarded as shewing the form of the lower portion or sole of a 
shoo; while with the Greeks it obtained the name of Bouglossa, ft-om 
a supposed resemblance to the tongue of an ox. Hippoglossus and 
Cynoglossus were also named from a fancied likeness to the tongue of 
a horse and a dog. The Flounder is so called from its mode of 
progression along the gi-ound, and its other name of Fluke is from its 
flat rhomboidal shape; being the same which is retained for the name, 
among other objects, of the flattened portion or claw of the anchor of 
a .ship. But appears to he a northern word, which signifies a rounded 
and flattened surface, as was the mark at which arrows were aimed 
from a bow; and the word Tur, which was formerly written, and is 
still in many places pronounced TiU', added to But, is significant of a 
flatfish which has its surface studded over with thorns. It does not 
appear that the Holibut was so named from any idea of its supposed 
sanctity, but that it was best known near Heligoland, or the Holy 
Island. The name of Passer, by which some of these fishes were 
designated at an early date, was derived from a fancied comparison 
with the Sparrow; for no better reason than that both the fish and 
the bird were brown or dark above, and of a light colour below. 
