158 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



In several characters this species differs from the description given by 

 Giinther of his P. onultimaculatus, to which it has been referred, and of 

 whieh the habitat of the type specimens is unknown, the most important of 

 these differences are, — the constantly larger eye, the greater number of the 

 teeth in each ramus of the lower jaw, the character of the scales, and the 

 different shape and length of the gillrakers ; we are not, therefore, by any 

 means satisfied that we are correct in continuing to assign to our species 

 Giinther's name. 



In habits, etc., it is similar to P. arsius, but in the Port Jackson District it 

 is individually more abundant, while the principal spawning season seems to 

 be the earlier months, specimens with the ova half developed being common 

 in the market during February and March, while an occasional example may 

 be found in the market during May and June, in which the ova are ready 

 for extrusion. Along with the usual molluscan and crustacean contents of 

 the stomach we have frequently detected remains of fishes, among others 

 Sillago maculata and Hippocampus novceliollandics, the presence of this latter 

 proving that these Flounders sometimes seek their prey among weeds. 



This species would appear to have but a limited range, the limits within 

 which we can with any certainty record ifc being narrowed to the seaboard of 

 New South Wales, between Botany Bay and Cape Hawke. It is true that 

 Saville Kent records it from Queensland waters, but, if we turn to his figure, 

 we find a fish without any resemblance to the species now under consider- 

 ation ; the initial point of the dorsal fin, the continuance of the membranes 

 of the anterior rays to their tips, the shape of the ventral fin, and the small 

 size of the pectoral fin, at once prove to anyone conversant with the fish in 

 question, that whatever the illustration may really represent, it certainly 

 bears little on no affinity to P. miilfimacidatus, and though our species 

 doubtless ranges as far north as the coast of Queensland, the evidence which 

 we have before us is not, we submit, Buflicieutly conclusive to warrant us in 

 adding that colony to its habitat 



The (Small-toothed Flounder grows to a leDjrth of sixteen inches. 



Genus II.— SOLEA. 



Solea, Cuvier, Regne Anim. 



Cleft of mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side. Nostrils variously 

 formed. Eyes on the right side, the upper being partially or entirely in 

 advance of the lower. Teeth on the blind side only, where they form villitbrra 

 bands : no vomerine or palatine teeth The dorsal fin commences on the 

 snout: pectorals present or absent: caudal free. Scales very small, ctenid. 

 Lateral line straight. 



Geograpliical distribution. — All temperate and tropical seas, except the 

 southern portion of the south temperate zone ; some specimens entering or 

 permanently inhabiting fresh water. 



In connection with this latter propensity Day remarks of the European 

 Sole {Solea vulgaris) * — " On retaining some in fresh, and others of a like 

 weight in saline water, the first at the end of a year were found to have 

 increased at twice the rapidity of those which were kept in salt water." 

 Experiments tending in this direction should be tried with all our Flatfishes. 



* For a full account of this Nlvluable fish, see Cunningham, " Treatise on the Common Sole." 



