178 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



early life these fishes pass through the same stages as do 

 most others which like these are hatched from a pelagic 

 egg; and for some time (the period being longer or shorter 

 according to the species) they are quite symmetrical, the 

 eyes being in their natural positions, one on each side of 

 the head ; but, after a while, the eye on that side which is 

 destined to be the underpart, begins to work round to the 

 other side and toward the light, as the fish gradually takes 

 to living on the one side at the bottom. In some species, 

 it is believed with good reason that the eye actually 

 works through the head. That side which rests against the 

 bottom and which becomes in early life eyeless, is called 

 the "blind" side. In some species this is the left side, while 

 in others it is the right. 



Amongst the numerous Australian Flat- Fishes may be 

 mentioned the Large-toothed Flounder (Paralichthys 

 arsius), the Small-toothed Flounder (Paralichthys novte- 

 cambrice}, the Southern Flounder (Rhombosolea mono- 

 pus'}, the Queensland Halibut (Psettodes erumei), the 

 Black Sole (Synaptura nigra), and the Lemon Sole or 

 Tongue-Fish (Symphurus unicolor). For the purposes of 

 this little volume, a very few words in regard to each must 

 suffice. 



The Large-toothed Flounder is one of the com- 

 monest of the Flounders of New South Wales and Queens- 

 land. It has an immense geographical distribution ; in 

 addition to the localities mentioned being found in the Seas 

 of the Malay Archipelago, China, Japan, India, the East 

 Coast of Africa, as well as in the Red Sea. Being, as will 

 be seen, a tropical species, it is more abundant in the 

 northern parts of New South Wales, becoming uncommon 

 as we approach the southern extremity. 



It attains a length of about 15 inches and is a first- 

 class table-fish. 



In colour, it is yellowish-brown with darker mottlings, 

 there being, usually, several white-edged spots along the 

 centre of the body. 



Apart from considerations of colour, this species may 

 be distinguished from the Small-toothed Flounder by (i) 



