204 VARIEGATED SOLE. 



in advance, close to the corner of tlie mouth. Lateral line 

 straight, passing to the border of the tail. The dorsal fin 

 begins near tbe upper jaw, and above the eyes is narrow; 

 but afterwards it passes on in nearly equal breadth, and with 

 the anal ends shorter of the tail than in the Common Sole; 

 caudal fin more or less round; pectoral fins small, and on the 

 under side especially so; ventrals also small, about midway 

 between the throat and anal fin. The colour is reddish brown, 

 and in the larger examples generally with few or no spots on 

 the body; but there are several distant black ])atches on the 

 dorsal and anal fins. In smaller individuals the dark mottlings 

 pass across the body as well as over the fins. 



