Solea. FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. 197 



Block, Ich. t. 189 — Hammer, Penn. Brit. Zool. edition 1812, iii. 322. 



Flem. Wern. Mem. ii. 241 ; Phil. Zool. t. iii. f. 2 — Little known on 



the coast. 

 Length 5 inches and upwards. Colour above black, mottled with brown, 

 and spotted with red ; beneath white. Denticles of the scales from 4 to 8 in 

 number. D. 79- (the first longer than those which immediately follow), P. 9, 

 V. 6, A. 68, C 17. — This species seems first to have been observed as a British 

 fish, by E. Hanmer, Esq. on the coast of Devon and Cornwall, in 1806-7- 

 A single specimen occurred to myself, 18th January 1810, in Zetland, where, 

 according to the testimony of the fishermen, it is not uncommon. 



100. P. Arnglossus. Scald-fish. — Body oblong. Scales de- 

 ciduous. Jaws equal. 



Arnglossus vel Solea laevis — A. Lantern, Will. Ich. 102. Hanmer, Penn. 

 Brit. Zool. edition 1812, iii. p. 325. t 53. — South coast of England. 

 According to Mr Hanmer, " The colour of the upper side is a pale brown 

 or dirtv white. The body has something of the same pellucid appearance as 

 the lantern, though in a less degree. Head rather small ; the jaws of equal 

 length, blunt ; the lateral line bent near the head. The dorsal fin consists of 

 82 ravs, as does the anal, which reaches to the tail ; the pectorals of 10 rays ; 

 a double row of rays, five in each, form the ventral fins ; behind them is one 

 or more short and'sharp spines; the tail is rounded at the extremity; the 

 rays of all the fins, including those of the tail, are bristly, and connected by a 

 thin film or pellicle, which is easily broken. The scales are so deciduous that 

 the friction of the trawl alone is sufficient to remove them ; when taken out of 

 the net they are usually dead, and in that bare state which gives some propriety 

 to the name they are known by of Scald-fish. They seem only to be known 

 at Plymouth, and occur there very rarely. Their length is rather more than 

 5 inches ; their breadth not exceeding 2 inches ; and are probably the smallest 

 of the English species, and of corresponding value." Had not the shape of 

 the mouth in Mr Hanmer's figure, and the position of the eyes on the left 

 side been in opposition, I would have placed this species in the genus Solea. 



Gen. XLVII. SOLEA. Sole.— Mouth twisted ; the jaws 

 destitute of teeth on the eye side. 



101. S. vulgaris. Common Sole. — Upper jaw longest. Scales 



rough. Tip of the upper pectoral fin black. 



Solea, Merr. Pin. 187 — Buglossus seu S. Rondeletii. Sibb. Fife 120 — 



Pleuronectes Solea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 457- Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 231 



Common, especially on the more southern coasts- 



Length from 1 to 2 feet, and from 1 to 7 pounds weight. Above brown, 

 beneath white. Irides yellow. Lateral line arched on the head ; from thence 

 to the tail, straight. Margin of the scales fringed with spines about 10 in 

 number. D. 97, F. 10, V. 8, A. 83, C. 17. Flesh firm, white, and delicious ; 

 in high repute in the market — This fish is gregarious, and is usually taken 

 by the trawl-net. 



102. S. variegata. — " Body oblong ; pale, clouded or mar- 

 bled with fuscous. Scales large."''' 



Pleuronectes var. Don. Brit. Fishes, t. cxvii. — P. Lingula, Hanmer, Penn 

 Brit. Zool. edition 1812, iii. p. 313 — English coast, rare. 



This species nearly resembles the preceding in general character, but dif- 

 fers in shape, being more rounded and short ; in the scales being shorter, 

 broader, and fringed with more numerous spines, and in the dorsal and anal 



