460 Fishes. 
water, flirting and paddling on the ooze at the bottom of 
the sea, no net can reach it, so that it is generally caught 
by hook and line. It is found chiefly on the northern 
coasts of England, Scotland, and Holland. 
THE PLAICE, (Platessa vulgaris,) 
A well-known English fish, nearly allied to the turbot. 
It has smooth sides, an anal spine, and the eyes and six 
tubercles are placed on the same side of the head. The 
body is very flat, and the upper part of the fish of a 
clear brown colour, marked with orange-coloured spots, 
and the belly white. Plaice spawn in the beginning of 
February, and when full-grown assume something like 
the shape of a turbot ; but the flesh is very different, 
being soft and nearly tasteless. 
When near the ground they swim slowly and horizon- 
tally, but if suddenly disturbed they change the hori- 
zontal to the vertical position, darting along with 
meteor-like rapidity, and then again quickly resuming 
their inactive habits at the bottom of the water. Plaice 
feed on small fish and young Crustacea, and have some- 
times been taken on our coasts weighing fifteen pounds, 
but a fish half that weight is considered very large. The 
finest kind, called Diamond Plaice, are caught on the 
Sussex coast. These fish are in considerable demand as 
food, though by no means equal to the turbot and sole. 
Those of a moderate size are reckoned the best eatinjr. 
