THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 335 



of the anal from 50 to 42 ; whereas, in the brill, the numbers 

 are higher, viz. 80 to 70 ; and 60 to 54 1 . 



Dr Ehrenbaum 2 has also obtained specimens of similar size 

 to Plate XIII, fig. 5, viz. from 10 to 12 mm., in July; and he 

 gives a careful account of them. He mentions the horny pro- 

 cesses at the end of the clavicle. 



Off the east coast of Scotland pelagic specimens f| in. to 

 1^ in. occur in July 3 , and in August they increase in size and 

 take to the bottom. Thus by aid of a net for capturing sand- 

 eels a series ranging from 41 to 62 mm. were taken at the 

 margin of the estuary of the Eden on the 7th of September. 

 The size, however, is variable, for others reach only If in. on 

 the 15th. Increasing in size they are caught 3 inches long, close 

 inshore on sandy ground, by the same net worked from the land 

 by aid of a boat in the middle of December. In February some 

 are 6 inches, but others in April are only 5|, while one on 

 May 23rd only reached 2| in. The latter would seem to have 

 been a very late example or to have been arrested in growth. 

 As a rule, specimens of 6 8 inches occur in June, while in 

 September many are captured on the sandy ground in 3 5 

 fathoms from 9^ to 9^ inches, the latter apparently representing 

 the growth from the previous spawning-season, or during a 

 period of about 15 months. Great irregularity prevails in the 

 growth of this as of other fishes, and the rate of growth in cap- 

 tivity is an uncertain guide. Thus for instance at Concarneau 4 

 young turbot hatched in the aquarium in June had only reached 

 a length of 2 to 2| inches the following April ; while others 

 hatched in April had grown to 5^ and 7^ inches. Smaller 

 races of fishes are also to be met with on certain grounds. 



A specimen 18 mm. long, with the right eye on the ridge, 

 was taken on the 20th of June in Norway 5 , and it was esti- 

 mated as "at least a month old." 



1 Vide W. C. M. Report, S. F. 13. 1892, and Dr Petersen. 



2 Op. cit. p. 287, PI. VI, fig. 21, 1896. 



3 Vide Traicling Report, 1885, p. 360. 



4 Fide Cunningham, J. M. B. Assoc. 1891-92, p. 357, Extr. from Bullet. Soc. 

 Imp. Zoolog. d'Acclimat. for 16th June, 1865. 



5 Scanrf. Fishes, p. 440. 



