306 PLEURONECTID-i:. 



line but very slightly curved over the pectoral fin, and 

 marked with numerous rough stellated tubercles at its com- 

 mencement, some more of which are arranged in two lines, 

 one above, the other below the lateral line throughout its 

 course : the body smooth ; the scales small ; the dorsal and 

 abdominal lines armed with a series of denticulated tubercles, 

 one in each space, between the rays, and alternating with 

 them ; the dorsal fin extends from the eye almost to the 

 tail ; the ventral fin is placed a little farther back than in the 

 Plaice, under the margin of the operculum ; the anal fin, 

 preceded by a spine directed forwards, also commences far- 

 ther back ; both dorsal and anal fins terminate on the same 

 plane ; the fleshy portion of the tail narrow, its rays elon- 

 gated, and almost square at the end. The fin-rays in num- 

 ber are 



D. 55 : P. 11 : V. 6 : A. 42 : C. 14. 



The colour of this species is variable, the shades of brown 

 depending on the nature of the ground from which the fish 

 is taken, but generally mottled with darker brown ; the 

 fins light brown, occasionally varied with patches of darker 

 brown, but generally lighter than the body. Examples 

 sometimes occur with a few indistinct reddish spots on the 

 upper surface ; but the roughness of the lateral line in the 

 Flounder, and its smoothness in the Plaice, is a distinguish- 

 ing character in these two species, however similar they may 

 happen to be in colour or size. 



