THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 355 



patches are observed along the base of the dorsal and ventral 

 fins. At 30 mm. both eyes are on the same level and the long 

 axis of the right eye is parallel to that of the body. The 

 patches of pigment are more clearly defined. The lateral line 

 retains its simple curve. Scales are now present. 



At 50 mm. the contour is more like that of the adult, scales 

 occur everywhere except on the head, the anterior part of ab- 

 domen and the interspinous areas, and the curve of the lateral 

 line anteriorly has assumed much of the angular condition of 

 the adult. The pigment-patches in the interspinous region are 

 reduced. At 90'4 mm. the head and parts of the interspinous 

 regions are devoid of scales, and the black pigment is still further 

 diminished. He procured other young samples up to 180 mm., 

 and none were obtained from a less depth than 28 to 32 

 fathoms, whilst one occurred at 115 fathoms. He concludes 

 by estimating that those from 19 to 56 mm. are from 3 to 7 

 months old; those from 75 to 130mm. from 15 to 19 months; 

 while those from 150 to 250 mm. are from 27 to 31 months. 



THE SCALD-FISH. (Platophrys laterna, Walb.) 



The authors of the Scandinavian Fishes are of opinion that 

 the spawning-season of this form occurs between May and 

 August, and Collett estimates the number of eggs at 50,000. 

 Malm, again, found ripe specimens between the 9th and 21st 

 of August, and remarked that it was at the latter date that the 

 roe began to " run." 



Cunningham believes the spawning-period is in May or June. 

 Holt found a ripe male off the west coast of Ireland in April. 

 Raffaele 1 first described the egg, but did not give the species. 



Ehrenbaum 2 recently found in July at some depth 

 an egg measuring 0'659 mm. with an oil-globule, and re- 

 sembling a reckling's, which he identified with this species. 

 The larval fish on hatching measured 2'575 mm. and had an 

 elongated yolk-sac, with the oil-globule at the posterior border 

 just in front of the rectum (Plate XIX, fig. 9). Touches 



1 Op. cit. p. 49, Tav. 4, f. 20. 



- Op. cit. p. 299, Taf. v, fig. 25-29. 



232 



