480 



PLETTRONECTID^. 



total length (without caudal), the length of the head four times. 

 The cleft of the mouth terminates below the front margin of the eye ; 

 the upper portion of the snout slightly overlaps the mandible ; chin 

 with a series of small barbels. The width of the interorbital space 

 equals the diameter of the eye ; the upper eye sHghtly in advance of 

 the lower. The dorsal and anal rays are naked, each of them having 

 only one smaU scale at its base. The longest dorsal rays are more 

 than half as long as the head, and stand near the end of the fin ; 

 caudal rounded, one-fifth of the total length. The ventrals are 

 nearly equally developed, each being composed of five rays. Reddish- 

 oiive, with numerous small and large irregular brown spots, edged 

 with series of dark-brown dots. Vertical fins with brown spots. 

 China. 



fl-6, c. Four inches and two and a half inches long. Presented by 

 Vice-Admiral Sir E. Belcher, C.B. 



26. SYNAPTURA*. 



Synaptura, Cant. Catal. Mai. Fishes, p. 222. 



Achiroides, Bleek. Verhand. Batav. Oenootsch. xxiv. Pleuron. p. 6. 



Synaptura, ^sopia, Euryglossa, et Eurypleura, Kaup. 



Eyes on the right side, the upper in advance of the lower. Cleft 

 of the mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side ; teeth minute, on 

 the blind side only ; no vomerine or palatine teeth. Vertical fins 

 confluent. Scales small, ctenoid ; lateral line straight. 



Indian Ocean and Archipelago, (Mediterranean.) 



The species of this genus may be subdivided in a similar way to 

 those of Solea : — 



A. One of the nostrils on the blind side is dilated, p. 480. 



B. No dilated nostril on the blind side. 



1. Pectoral fins developed on both sides, the right being more or less 



the longer. 



a. Nasal tube small or simple : Synaptura, Kaup, p. 481. 



b. Nasal tube bifid : Euryglossa, Kaup, p. 484. 



2. The left pectoral fin is rudimentary : JEsopia (pt.), Kaup, p. 484. 



3. The left pectoral is longer than the right : Anisochirus, p. 480. 



4. Both pectorals are absent : Achiroides, Bleeker, p. 486. 



A. One of the nostrils on the blind side is dilated. 

 1. Synaptura savignyi. 

 Synaptura savignyi, Kaup in Wiegm. Arch. 1858, p. 97. 

 D. 72. A. 58-60. C. 18. P. 8. 

 A large round nostril on the blind side. The height of the body 



* 1. Jerre potoo B., Russell, pi. 71. — Solea jerreus, Cuv.'R&gne Anim. — Coro- 

 mandel. 



