336 PLEURONECTID.E. 



in the nets which are set for Red Mullet. In winter the 

 boys find small ones, not larger than a half-crown piece, in 

 the pools left by the tide. This species of Flatfish does not 

 probably attain any great size ; the largest examples I have 

 seen not exceeding seven or eight inches in length. It is 

 said to feed on mollusca and small star-fishes. 



Mr. Baker, of Bridgewater, sent me a specimen, beautifully 

 preserved, that had been taken in the Bristol Channel : and 

 I have a record of one that was caught on the coast of the 

 county of Down in Ireland. 



The whole length of the specimen described is five inches 

 and one quarter; the length of the head compared to that 

 of the body, without the caudal rays, is as one to two and 

 a half; the breadth of the body, not including the dorsal 

 and anal fins, half of the whole length : the form of the body, 

 including both these fins, is rhomboid : the dorsal fin com- 

 mences immediately over the upper lip, the rays lengthening 

 by degrees, and being longest over the posterior third part of 

 the body ; the pectoral fin small : the ventral fins placed in a 

 vertical line under the middle of the head, and attached to 

 the commencement of the anal fin by a membrane : this 

 latter-named fin commences under the line of the ascending 

 posterior margin of the preoperculum ; both dorsal and anal 

 fin end on the same plane, and are connected to the fleshy 

 portion of the tail by a membrane ; the tail small and round- 

 ed. The fin-rays in number are 



D. 90 : P. 11 : V. 6 : A. 70 : C. 14. Vertebra 33. 



The mouth is small, the position almost vertical ; the 

 teeth distinct, small, conical, and sharp : the diameter of the 

 eye equal to one-fourth of the length of the head ; the upper 

 eye placed behind the line of the lower to the distance of 

 nearly one-half its width : the basal and ascending marginal 

 lines of the preoperculum form an obtuse angle ; the cheeks, 



