IM.AUE. 



209 



SUBBRACHIAL 

 MALACOPIERYGII. 



PLEUIWNECTID/K 



THE PLAICE. 



Flatessa vulgaris, Plaise, Flew. Brit. An. p. 198. sp. 103. 



,, ,, CuviER, Regne An. t. ii. p. 338. 



,, ,, Plaise, WiLLUGHBY, p. 96, F. 4. 



Pleuronectes plutessa, LiNN;ti's. Bloch, pt. ii. pi. 42. 



,, ,, Pluise, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 304. 



Don. Brit. Fish. pi. 6. 



Generic Characters. — Body rhomboidal, depressed ; both eyes on the right 

 side of the head, one above the other ; a row of teeth in each jaw, with others 

 on the pharyngeal bones ; dorsal fin commencing over the upper eye, that fin 

 and the anal fin extending nearly the whole length of the body, but neither of 

 them joined to the tail ; branchiostegous rays 6. 



The cluiractor and appearance of the various species 

 of Pleuroncctida, or Flatfish, as they are popularly calletl, 

 arc so peculiar and so unique among vcrtebratcd animals 

 as to claim particular notice. 



The uanl of symmetry in the form of the head ; both 

 eyes placed on the same side, one highei- than the other, 



* I'iic family of tlie Flounders, popularly called Flatfish. 



