GENUS XVII.-THE FLOUNDER-KIND.

Gen. Char-Body quite flat, and very thin; eyes both on the same side of the head; branchiostegous rays, from four to seven.

* With the Eyes on the right side.

Species 1.-The Holibut.

Holibut, Septent. Anglis Turbot, Wil. Icth. 99. Raii Syn. Pisc. 33. Pleuronectes Hippoglossus, Lin. Sys. 456. Brit. Zool. 184. Orc. Turbot.

THE Holibut is very frequently caught by our fishermen round the whole country, but especially in the eddies, or where two tides meet: all the flat fishes, by their shape, being hindered from resisting the rapidity of the tide, are obliged to withdraw themselves till its force is spent, and are often at this time caught by the fishermen, who know this circumstance.

They are very large and coarse dry fish, except the head and fins, which are reckoned excellent; yet a very small fish of this kind is far from bad. The skin is thick and oily, as also the bones, from which a large quantity of pure oil may be obtained. Whether this is for any particular use, I am uncertain.

Species 2.-The Plaice.

Plaise, Wil. Icth. 96. Raii Syn. Pisc. 31. Plueronectes Platessa, Lin. Sys. 456. Brit. Zool. 186.

LIKEWISE caught here, though not very large. The skin is a little rough, without scales; has six tubercles behind the left eye.

The body is broader, in proportion to its length, than several of the other species of this genus; the colour of the upper side brown, with orange and red spots; the belly white.

This species keeps much on the sand-banks and muddy grounds; found frequently on the bank of the harbour of Stromness, and at the top of the bay, likewise in the bay of Skeal, and other flat sandy shores round the Orkneys. A few are caught on small lines made on purpose, but they are not much sought after.

Species 3.-The Flounder.

Flounder, Fluke, or But, Wil. Icth. 980.

Flesus, Lin. Sys. 437.

Raii Syn. Pisc. 32 Pleuronectes Brit. Zool. 187.

THIS is found in all our bays, creeks, and inlets, especially, if the ground be flat and sandy; also very frequent in the shallower parts of the loch of Stenness, where I have seen

vast numbers of them caught with a seine net, of different dimensions, from half a pound to two or three, seldom exceeding the last.

It is very delicate eating, especially fried, and most commonly here dressed in this way.

The back is rough, with rows of prickles, which are placed at the beginnings of the rays of its fins, and on the side line; the colour of the back is brown; the belly white.

Species 4.-The Sole.

Solea, the Sole Fleuk, Sib. Scot. 24. Pleuronectes Solea, Lin. Sys. 457. Brit. Zool. 190.

EASILY distinguished from the rest of the genus, by being the narrowest, in proportion to its length, of any of them.

The scales are small, armed with prickles at one end, which makes the fish feel rough to the hand; they are commonly shewn as curiosities in a microscope, enclosed between two bits of talc, fixed in a slider. The colour of the back is brown; the belly white, but more transparent than in several others of the flounder-kind.

The sole is reckoned the most delicate of the genus, and much valued. They are caught in the bay of Skeal, and no doubt elsewhere round the Orkneys.

With the Eyes on the left side.

Species 5.-The Turbot.

Turbot, in the North a Bret. Wil. Icth. 94. Rhombus maximus asper non squamosus, Raii Syn. Pisc. 31. Pleuronectes maximus, Lin. Sys. 459. Brit. Zool. 192.

THE true Turbot is perhaps found on our coasts, though but rare, insomuch that in these seven years I have but seen two or three specimens. These are much better fish than the great holibut, but the latter is much more frequently caught, and sometimes of an enormous size: I have seen a holibut seven feet and a half long, and very thick in proportion, but very coarse; those of two or three feet being much better.

Though there are great numbers of these holibuts caught here, they have no method of preserving them, either by pickling or drying them, and I suppose they would make but very ordinary eating cured in either way,

GENUS XVIII.-THE WRASSE.

Gen. Char.-Covers of the gills scaly; branchiostegous rays, unequal in number; teeth conic, long, and blunt at their ends; one tuberculated bone at the bottom of the throat; two above opposite to the other; one dorsal fin reaching the whole length of the back; a slender skin extending beyond the end of each ray; rounded tail.

Species 1.-The Wrasse.

Turdus vulgatissimus, Wil. Icth. 319. Wrasse or Old Wife, Raii Syn. Pisc. 136. Labrus Tinca, Lin. Sys. 477. Brit. Zool. 203. Orc. Bergle.

FOUND close in with the shores where they are highest, and deep water, along with the red cod, and some others; not very often caught here, though it will take a bait.

In shape it is short, deep, and thick, covered with very large scales, the greatest, indeed, I have observed on any fish, great or small.

They are much thought of as a food; however, are something coarse, and thick skinned; are here roasted fresh, seldom or ever salted, the quantity got being so small as not to be worth curing.

The colour is red on the sides, and yellow bellied in some, while others vary, having the belly white, and only stripes or spots of red on their great scales.