358 



PLEURONECTIDE. 



fish is similar to the common Sole, but is of a more wedge- 

 shaped form, becoming narrow at the caudal extremity. 

 The head is small, one-sixth of the whole length ; the mouth 

 is crooked ; each jaw is furnished with a number of minute 

 teeth, placed close together, and extending but half way round 

 the mouth ; the eyes are small ; the upper, or left eye, a little 

 in advance. The dorsal fin commences immediately over the 

 upper lip, and runs down the back, to be connected with the 

 caudal rays ; the anal fin begins under the posterior margin of 

 the operculum, and continues to the tail. The number of 

 the fin-rays are, 



D. 73 : P. 4 : V. 4 : A. 54 : C. 14. 



The scales are small, with from twelve to fifteen denticles at 

 their free extremity, rendering the whole surface of the fish 

 rough to the touch when the finger is passed along from the 

 tail to the head. The pectoral fin, on the eye-side, is small, 

 with the lower half black, while the fin on the opposite side 

 is very minute, and of a pale white ; the lateral line is 

 straight throughout ; the tail is rounded at the end, and 

 mottled with brown." 



