THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 341 



on this subject, the young turbot of the same size is some- 

 what in advance. This author gives a figure of a slightly 

 larger form, viz. between 7 and 8 mm., and points out that 

 while the turbot has spines on the head at this size, the brill 

 has not. He also attaches some importance on the elevated 

 ridge or hump on the head in the brill, nothing of the kind 

 appearing in the young turbot. Moreover, at this length the 

 brill has scarcely anything but embryonic rays in all the fins 

 (which are formed), and the notochord is curved only a little 

 upward. 



A further stage of this species is represented by a form 

 (Plate XIII, fig. 9) described in 1892 as an unknown post- 

 larval fish from Smith Bank, where it was procured by the 

 Garland in the mid-water net on the 28th June, 1889, along 

 with young gadoids, gurnards and pleuronectids. In the original 

 description it was contrasted with the halibut, but further con- 

 sideration inclines us to think that it may be a well-grown 

 young brill. It is distinguished by the great thickness of the 

 body, the depth of which is comparatively moderate, by the 

 character of the head, and the presence of branchiae projecting 

 behind the gill-cover. It is a post-larval fish, with a thick and 

 firm body, and developing branchiae, yet the embryonic tail 

 is still present. Its total length is 9'5 mm., and the greatest 

 depth is about 3'8 mm. The body is somewhat elongated, 

 with a distinct depression of the snout in profile, as in the 

 young brill, and a marginal fold on the head joins the anterior 

 part of the dorsal fin. Indications of very minute spines occur 

 on the opercular region. 



The body is speckled with minute blackish-brown points on 

 the head and lateral region, and by similar specks of pigment 

 over the belly, the latter having undergone considerable change, 

 as is often seen in other forms after immersion in spirit, viz. a 

 spreading out of the marginal pigment, while a black speck 

 remains in the centre. The specks on the lateral region are 

 dotted with some regularity. Indications of two pigment- 

 touches occur in the dorsal (marginal) fin, viz. above the tip 

 of the breast-fin, and another about the centre of the region 

 behind the vent. Ventrally a single patch lies between the 



