370 THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 



patches occur along the dorsal line as before, besides some 

 minute spots at the base of the tail. Inferiorly two touches 

 are present on the abdominal margin, and one superiorly at 

 the curve of the rectum ; three others lie in front of the caudal 

 pigment-spots. The abdominal patches are somewhat less 

 distinct on the left side. A little black pigment is also present 

 on the tip of the jaw, at the ventral edge of its angle, and 

 on the prominent area below the breast-fins. The larval tail 

 remains, while the inferior rays (forming the main part of the 

 tail-fin) are well developed. Parasitic crustaceans (Caligi) are 

 frequently attached to the anterior region. 



At the length of 10'37 mm., as captured by Holt 1 off the 

 west coast of Ireland, the general condition agrees with the 

 foregoing. 



When a little over half-an-inch (14mm.) in length (Plate 

 XV, fig. 13 and fig. 15, page 60), the greatest breadth of the fish, 

 including the fins, is 7 mm. The left eye at this time appears, 

 in profile, above the head, and is distinctly in advance of the 

 right. The pigment-spots on the right and left sides are nearly 

 the same, though those on the right, perhaps, are more distinct, 

 four patches occurring along the dorsal and three along the 

 ventral margin of the body. The touches on the abdomen are 

 present, but somewhat altered by the growth of the tissues, and 

 so with those on the ventral margin as well as the head. Pig- 

 ment-specks persist at the base of the tail. The body is now 

 proportionally broader. In specimens a little (2 or 3 mm.) longer 

 similar features as regards pigment and other points occur, but 

 the left eye is mounting the head, and the ventral fins appear 

 as minute buds. The marginal fins are still infested by young 

 parasitic crustaceans (Caligi). The foregoing specimens were 

 generally procured E. or S. E. of the Island of May in water 

 varying from 18 to 29 fathoms, the mid-water net being floated 

 about 4 fathoms above the bottom. They are however got in 

 considerable numbers, and ranging from 8 to 18 mm., towards the 

 end of October in the Moray Frith, showing that the spawning- 

 season of the species, as observed in 1884, is continued late into 

 the autumn. From the position of the eyes and the occurrence 



1 Op. cit., p. 90, PI. 15. f. 120. 



