. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER LIII THE ORDER OF FLAT-FISHES HETEROSO^fATA The flounders, halibuts, soles, plaice, and turbots make up the very desirable and important Order of Fiat-Fishes. When in doubt about an English or continental breakfast, order a fried sole and you are safe; for so trustworthy is this fish that only the most bungling cook can spoil it. In England, the sole is almost a national institution, but on our side, its counterpart, the small flounder, is not so plentiful that it a
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER LIII THE ORDER OF FLAT-FISHES HETEROSO^fATA The flounders, halibuts, soles, plaice, and turbots make up the very desirable and important Order of Fiat-Fishes. When in doubt about an English or continental breakfast, order a fried sole and you are safe; for so trustworthy is this fish that only the most bungling cook can spoil it. In England, the sole is almost a national institution, but on our side, its counterpart, the small flounder, is not so plentiful that it attains equal importance on the daily bill of fare. The Order of Fiat-Fishes, all the world over, is very large, " containing about fafty-five genera. THE COMMON HALIBUT. and nearly five hundred ; Among its members, some of the halibuts attain great size. Almost any member of this Order is recognizable at one glance, by its broad, o\'al form, almost completely encircled by the fringe-like dorsal and anal fins, and the presence of both eyes on the upper side of the body. The body is so thin that " flat as a flounrler " is a standard comparison wherever the English language is spoken. The Fiat-Fishes are good examples of pro- tective coloring. All these fishes swim and rest with their bodies in a horizontal position. The upper surface, or back, is always darkest, and 418 in many instances it is so skilfully colored and mottled in imitation of the sandy bottom on which it lives, that when at rest on the floor of the ocean or aquarium the fish is almost invisible. On the other hand, the under side of the fish is white, or cream color, in order that to enemies below it, looking upward, it will match the light of the upper world. As food fishes, the majority of the Fiat-Fishes are very desirable. Their flesh is excellent, and their bones are few and far between. The flesh of the halibut is very white and firm, and whether fresh or smoked, it is highly palat
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