. The popular natural history . Zoology. 478 THE SOLE. On opening the head of this fish, the curious structure which enables it to perform such marvellous feats is cLarly seen. Just within tlic sides of the head, the pharyngeal bones, the bones that support the orifice beiween the mouth and gullet, are much enlarged, and modified into a series of labyrin- thme cells and duplications, so that they retain a large amount of water in the interstices, and prevent the gill membranes from becoming dry. Some writers say that this fish is capable of climbing up the rough stems of palm- trees, in s
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 478 THE SOLE. On opening the head of this fish, the curious structure which enables it to perform such marvellous feats is cLarly seen. Just within tlic sides of the head, the pharyngeal bones, the bones that support the orifice beiween the mouth and gullet, are much enlarged, and modified into a series of labyrin- thme cells and duplications, so that they retain a large amount of water in the interstices, and prevent the gill membranes from becoming dry. Some writers say that this fish is capable of climbing up the rough stems of palm- trees, in search of tne water that lodges between the bases of the dead leaves and the stem, or perhaps in search of food. In the Tamoule language it is called Paneiri, or tree-climber. The Flat Fishes, as they are popularly called, or the Pleuronectidas, as they are named scientifically, are among the most remarkable of the finny tribe. The latter name is of Greek origin, and signifies " side-swimmer," in allusion to the mode of progression usually adopted by these fishes. The popular but erroneous idea of these creatures is, that their bodies are flattened so that the abdomen rests on the ground and the back remains uppermost ; but a brief examination suffices to show that the form of these fishes is really compressed, so that when a turbnt or a sole is placed on the ground, it lies upon one side or the other. Though varying in colour, it is found that the upper side is always of a dark tint, the under side being quite if not wholly white. This arrangement is most useful in guarding them against the attacks of enemies, their flat dark upper surface bearing so great a resemblance to the sand on which ihey love to creep, that they can scarcely be distinguished, even when the eye is directed towards them. While at their ease, they slide themselves over the bed of the sea in a kind of creeping fashion and 'y'"'v"\ have an odd custom of -> lying with the head raised in
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
