FLOFNDER. 



197 



advance, and near the corner of the mouth. Scales on the 

 body scarcely perceptible, but sometimes rough on the lateral 

 line; rough tubercles along the base of the dorsal and anal 

 fins; lateral line a little curved at first, but becoming straight 

 before the termination of the pectoral fin, a bony ridge passing 

 from the eyes to join it behind the gill-covers; and several 

 rough tubercles on the coloured side, just above the pectoral 

 fin. The dorsal fin begins with short rays close behind the 

 eyes, and both the dorsal and anal fins end with short rays 

 opposite each other, not far from the tail, both these fins 



much expanded near the middle of their length; pectoral wide, 

 ventral at midway between the throat and beginning of the 

 anal fin; tail rounded. The colour is subject to variety, 

 according to the nature of the ground, from very dark to a 

 lighter greenish, or brown, with mottled tints, and the fins 

 with even white streaks separating the rays. 



It is said that this fish is more subject to variation of 

 structure than others of this extensive family; the eyes being 

 directed to the left instead of the right, or the lower and 

 white side being of the same colour as the upper. Donovan's 

 plate represents the opposite of this, with a large portion of 

 the upper side like the paler side below. It sometimes happens 

 also that there is a deficiency in the continuance of outline 



