352 PLEURONECTID.E. 



by that of Lemon Sole, in reference to its prevailing yellow- 

 ish colour, and on the Devonshire coast it is called the Sand 

 Sole. This species has since been taken in Belfast Bay, as 

 recorded by Mr. William Thompson. 



In shape the Lemon Sole is wider in proportion to its 

 whole length than the common Sole, and it is also somewhat 

 thicker; the head is smaller, being in proportion to the 

 whole length of the fish rather less than as one to seven ; the 

 breadth of the body, dorsal and anal fins included, exactly 

 half the whole length : the arrangement of the fins is nearly 

 the same as in the common Sole ; but the fin-rays and the 

 number of vertebrae differ. 



D. 81 : P. 8 : V. 5 : A. 69 : C. 17. Vertebrae 43. 



The prevailing colour is a mixture of orange and light 

 brown, freckled over with numerous small round spots of 

 dark nutmeg brown, giving a mottled appearance to the 

 whole upper surface. The scales differ in character ; the 

 lateral line is straight, but not so prominent or strongly 

 marked; the tail is narrower than in the common Sole, 

 though containing the same number of rays ; the end of the 

 pectoral fin spotted with black. On the under side the ap- 

 pearance is still more characteristic of the distinction of the 

 species. The under surface of the head is almost smooth, 

 without any of the papillary eminences so numerous and 

 remarkable in the common Sole, and the nostril is pierced in 

 a prominent tubular projection, which is wanting in the 

 other : the under surface is white with the appearance of the 

 scales more strongly marked than upon the upper. 



