ZOOLOGY 

 THE FLAT FISHES OF CAPE COLONY. 



BY 



C4. A. BOULENGER, F. E. S. 



Up to the present day only five kinds of flat fishes 

 (Pleuronectidae) were known from the coast of South 

 Africa. I have now received from Dr. Gilchrist an example 

 of a sixth, allied to the British Scald-fish [Arnog/ossus 

 latcriKi) which represents a species not only new to the 

 South African Fauna, but also to science. The Flat Fishes 

 of the Cape being still very imperfectly known, I have not 

 contented myself with defining the new fish ; but have also 

 drawn up descriptions of the five previously known species, 

 which belong to the genera Solca, Achirns, Syuapfnra and 

 C\)ioglossns. 



The six species may be distinguished as follows : — 



I. Lower jaw projecting beyond the snout; lower eye in 

 advance of the upper; caudal fin distinct from dorsal and 

 anal; s\\\\^ix2X. . . . Arnoglossus capciisis, Blgr. 



II. Snout projecting beyond the lower jaw, hooked; 

 upper eye in advance of the lower. 



A. Caudal fin distinct fi-om dorsal and anal ; dextral. 

 Pectoral fins present, short. .Solca bleekcri, Blgr. 

 Pectoral fins absent. .Achirus capvnsis, Kaup. 



B. Caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal. 



1. Dextral ; pectoral fins present. 



Right pectoral longer than head. Synaptura pectoralis, Kaup. 

 Right pectoral shorter than head. Synaptura microlepis, Blkr. 



2. Sinistral ; pectoral fins absent. Cynoglossus 



cape/isis, Kaup. 



I. ARNOGLOSSUS CAPENSIS, sp.n. 



Eyes on the left side, lower in axlvance of upper by half 

 its length. Mouth symmetrical, with a single series of small 

 teeth; lower jaw projecting a little beyond the upper; maxil- 

 lary extending to below anterior border of lower eye. Snout 

 % diameter of eyes, which is 3^ times in length of head and 

 4 times interociflar width; length of mouth 3^ times in 



