240 MALACOP. SUB-BRACH. FLAT FISH. 



entire only near the bone, leaving the rays to project 

 like insulated spines. The present species, as the 

 name implies,' has the mouth large, and the lowest 

 jaw longest, the coloured side rough with ciliated 

 scales; the lateral line is conspicuous, and bifurca- 

 ted over the pectoral fin, one branch being straight, 

 and the other curved upwards. The upper side is 

 light yellowish, or reddish brown, occasionally a 

 little mottled with dark brown. The length is from 

 twelve to eighteen inches. 



From its rarity very little is known about the 

 habits of this fish. _ Mr. Couch says, that on the 

 Cornish coast, where it is not uncommon, it is called 

 the Cm^ter ; it keeps on sandy ground, not far from 

 land, and is often taken, but little valued, from 

 being so thin. Mr. Jenyns found it at Hastings ; 

 Mr.. Donovan in Wales ; Dr. Johnson at Berwick j 

 and Mr. Yarrell has obtained it from the fish- 

 mongers' stalls in London. It also occurs on the 

 Irish coasts, but has not been observed, as far as 

 we know, on those of Scotland. 



(Sp. 181.) R. Arnoglossus. The Scaldfish, or 

 Smooth-sole. One of the smallest of the British 

 Pleuronectidae, the length not exceeding five or six 

 inches. The scales of this fish are large, thin, and 

 so deciduous as to fall off by the friction of the 

 trawl-net, or even by the touch ; and the membrane 

 which unites the rays of the fins is a thin film or 

 pellicle, broken by the slightest pressure ; the naked 

 state, therefore, in whicli the fish usually appears 

 after being caught, has suggested the name of Scald- 



