PLEURONECTID^E. 19 



Jenyns, p. 463; Johnston, Berwick. Nat. Hist. Field Club, 1838, i, p. 174; Fries, 

 Wiegm. Arch. 1840, p. 32 ; Moreau, Poiss. France, iii, p. 321. 



Zeugopterus hirtus, Gottsche, Wiegm. Arch. 1835, p. 178 ; White, Catal. 

 p. 103. 



Scophthalmus hirtus, Bonap. Pesc. Eur. p. 49. 



Whiff, Couch, Linn. Trans, xiv, p. 78. 



Rhombus hirtus, Yarrell, Brit. Fish. (Ed. 1) ii, p. 243, c. fig. (Ed. 2), ii, p. 334 

 (Ed. 3) i, p. 646 ; Parnell, Wern. Mem. vii, p. 376, and Fish. Firth of Forth, 

 p. 216 ; Nilss. Skand. Fauna, iv, p. 646 ; Ross, Zool. 1843, p. 106, c. fig. 



lihombus punctatus, Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 413. 



Zeugopterus punctatus, Collett, Norges Fiske, p. 139 ; Malm, p. 518 ; Winther, 

 Ich. Dan. Mar. p. 38. 



Mutter's and Block's topknot, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, iii, pp. 170, 173, pi. clxv, 

 clxvi. 



B. vii, D. 87-101, P. 10, V. 6, A. 69-80, C. 14-16, Vert. 12/25, Ccec. pyl. 0. 



Length of head 3^ to 3f , of caudal fin 7 to 7^-, height of body about 2 to 2j in 

 the total length. Eyes on the left side, upper margin covered by a thick skin, the 

 lower eye slightly in advance of the upper, 1 diameter from the end of the snout, 

 and j to \ of the length of the head. Interorbital space narrow but not elevated. 

 Cleft of mouth very oblique : the lower jaw rather projecting anteriorly. Teeth 

 in a villiform band in the jaws, present also on the vomer. Gill-rakers 

 closely set, the longest about 2/3 the diameter of the eye. Fins dorsal commences 

 on the snout, its anterior rays not so long as the diameter of the eye : they 

 gradually increase in length, becoming longest in the commencement of the last 

 third of the body where they equal half the length of the head : the posterior 

 ones short, and the fin passing beneath the base of the caudal, becomes almost 

 conjoined with the anal, which is similarly turned under the tail. Left pectoral 

 nearly half as long as the head, right pectoral half as long as left. Ventral 

 commencing under the throat, is joined posteriorly to the anal : the skin from this 

 fin passes to the posterior surface of the base of the anal rays, a groove being 

 formed for the vent. Caudal rounded. Scales spinate on the coloured side, 

 present on rays of vertical and caudal fins. Smooth on the blind side. Lateral- 

 line forms a curve over the base of the pectoral fin, after which it becomes 

 straight. Colours of a rich dark brown, having a wide black, light-edged band 

 passing backwards and outwards from each eye. Three or four round black 

 marks on the back, and some irregular dark blotches and occasionally numerous 

 light spots. Jaws blackish. Fins dark brown, with some irregular bands and 

 blotches, more especially on the dorsal or anal. Under surface white. 



Pennant's figure in his edition of 1776, 1. c, erroneously termed smear-dab, is 

 reversed, due most probably to an artistic error. 



Varieties. According to Mr. R. Couch this fish is very subject to malformation 

 of the anterior end of the dorsal fin, causing it to form an arch over the eyes. 

 J. Couch observed upon having seen this fish with almost the whole of its upper 

 surface, except the head and a small patch near the tail, without colours or scales, 

 like the lower surface : the border of the dorsal and anal fins yellowish red, and 

 with only two'or three rays having scales ; on the tail the rays extended beyond 

 the border of the membrane. In another instance there was no caudal portion, 

 so that where the dorsal and anal fins were brought closely together the body 

 terminated. 



Names. Browny in Cornwall : little blade hairy fluke, Edinburgh market. 

 At Penzance I obtained this fish and the fishermen insisted that it was a young 

 brill. Le Pleuronecte Targeur, French. 



Habits. Frequents sandy bays, with low shelving rocks covered with sea- 

 weed, where it conceals itself. It is very remarkable how difficult it is to find in 

 an aquarium, as it hides itself in the darkest corners. 



Means of capture. Trammels, or nets set for sur-mullets. In the Firth of 

 Forth occasionally taken in crab-cages. 



Breeding. " Summer and autumn, and in winter, the young are of about 



2 # 



