205 



LEMON SOLE. 



SAND SOLE. 



Solea peffnsa, 



Solea aurantiaca, 



Tarkell; Zoological Journal, vol. iv, p. 467, 

 pi, 16; and British Fishes, vol. i, p. 351. 

 Jenyns; Manual, p. 467, 

 GuNTHEK; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. iv, p. 467. 



The Lemon Sole was first recognised as Britfsli by Mr. 

 Yarrell, but was mistaken by him for P. jjegusa of Risso, 

 which is the Solea monochir of Dr. Gunther, and which is so 

 called because it has no pectoral fin on the blind side; but 

 that species has never been taken in Britain, although it is a 

 native of the Mediterranean, where it appears that the Lemon 

 Sole is also known. When first described by Mr. Yarrell, the 

 latter was new to science. 



It had probably been confounded with the Thick-backed 

 Sole by fishermen in the south and west of England, to whom 

 it appears to have been known to some extent. It seems, 

 however, to be amongst the rarer of our flatfishes, although 

 no small number have been taken in Ireland and in some 

 parts of the east coasts of England; and its habits are no 

 further known than that it prefers to keep in soft sandy 

 ground. The single individual I have examined was taken 

 at Plymouth, and was presented to me by Lieut. Spence, R.N., 

 who occupied himself much in seeking out and preserving the 

 skins of fishes taken in that port, many of which were sent 

 by him to the British Museum. 



The length of the specimen was eight inches and a fourth, 

 which appears to be that to which this species commonly 

 attains; breadth of the body two inches and six eighths. The 



