44 ANACANTHINI. 



anal fins. Caudal with a dark band in its last third, having a light outer edge. 

 Dorsal and anal fins usually edged with white. 



Thompson observes Solea lingula and S. variegata are brought together as 

 synonymous by Yarrell and Jenyns. " In placing individuals together the most 

 obvious differences appear in the dark blotches and transverse bands of S. 

 variegata contrasted with the comparatively uniform tint of 8. lingula : the scales 

 of 8. variegata are very much smaller and its eyes being relatively to each other 

 placed more vertically : in the dorsal and anal fins being rather more distant from 

 the caudal fin : and in the general form of the body, which tapers less towards the 

 tail : the rays too of the dorsal and anal fins are considerably fewer in number 

 than in 8. lingula." The Banksian copy of Pennant has the following MS. 

 remark : " This fish is sometimes taken at Torbay in the trawling nets. It differs 

 at first sight from the common sole in the edges of the scales being strongly 

 ciliated, and in wanting the numerous small beards that hang from the lower side 

 of the head of the common sort." This appears to be the "red-back " described 

 from E. Hanmer's MS. in the 1812 edition of Pennant (iii, p. 313, pi. xlviii) but 

 there is no reference to this figure (P. Z. S. 1849, p. 83). 



Names. Thichback, Devonshire, so termed owing to its being thicker than the 

 common sole : bastard sole, Weymouth. It was first observed from our coast by 

 Donovan, in April, 1807, when it was brought to Billingsgate market. 



Habits. On the south coast of Great Britain it appears in the spring and 

 continues through most of the year. 



Means of capture. Trawling, and is often taken in very great numbers along 

 the south coast. 



As food. Largely consumed in Devonshire and Cornwall where it is held in 

 great estimation. 



Habitat. From the British coasts to France and the Mediterranean, and 

 common off Italy (Giglioli) : frequent along the coasts of France and extends into 

 the Mediterranean, Trieste (Giglioli). Met with occasionally off Banff (Edward) : 

 off Rothsay and the Isle of Bute in Scotland (Scouler) : in October, 1851, Mr. 

 Hussey (Zool. p. 3282) observed upon many having been captured at Brighton, 

 one pair weighing upwards of 6 lb. : but Mr. Thompson (Zool. p. 3375) says they 

 were merely varieties of the common sole, continuing, " the true variegated sole 

 I have never seen exceed 5|- inches (French measure) and I have seen twenty 

 pairs at a time and not half-an-inch difference in the whole lot, and many of them 

 had roe. They are called here (Weymouth) ' bastard soles.' " During August, 

 1881, 1 found they were being landed in thousands at Plymouth from the trawlers 

 and sold as " thickbacks," they had been captured during at least the three 

 previous months. Mr. Dunn, in the last week in February, 1881, forwarded 

 to me one with the information that they were being taken near Plymouth in 

 hundreds, averaging about six to a pound, and were being sold in pads separated 

 from the other soles as offal. 



In Ireland one was dredged at Belfast, June 16th, 1838, by Mr. Drummond, 

 and in Ventry harbour it is not uncommon (Andrews) . 



The example figured is 6^- inches long, and was obtained at Plymouth, it 

 attains to 9 inches in length according to Buckland. 



4. Solea lutea, Plate CVIII, fig. 2. 



Solea parva s. lingula, Rondel, xi, c. 15, p. 324 ; Gesner, Aquat. iii, lib. iv, 

 p. 669 ; Aldrov. ii, c. 43, p. 237 ; Jonston, Pise, ii, lib. 1, tit. 3, c. 2, a. 2, punct. i, 

 p. 58 ; Willughby, p. 102, t. F 8, f . 1 ; Klein, Pise. Miss, iv, p. 32, no. 4. Solonette, 

 Duhamel, iii, sect. 9, p. 258, pi. ii, f. 1, 2. 



Pleuronectes luteus, Risso, Ich. Nice, p. 312. 



Rhombus luteus, Risso, Europ. Merid. iii, p. 257. 



MonocMrus minutus, Parnell, Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, 1837, c. fig. and Mag. 

 Zool. and Bot. i, 1837, p. 527, c. fig. ' 



Monochirus linguatulv.s, Cuv. Rcgne Anim. ; Thompson, Ann. Nat. Hist, ii, 



