280. as REPORT—1845, ; fry wire vO 
though they are united to its base by membranes. The dorsal commences over the anterior 
edge, and there is no membranous edge from thence to the mouth, which is a little way be- 
hind the very obtuse snout. Form ovate and very regular. Teeth nearly imperceptible and 
existing on the reverse side of mouth only. A band of cuticular filaments commences on the 
under lip and extends backwards to the lower edge of the gill-cover, fringing the gill-opening 
on the pale side only. The lower eye touches the upper lip, and the eyelids of both eyes are 
minutely scaly. Scales on both sides very strongly ciliated, but rather more rough on the 
coloured or right side ; equally large on the head as elsewhere, and covering the fins in broad 
belts above and below. Lateral line straight. Upper side of the four specimens, which are 
preserved in spirits, grayish-brown, with a minute mottling a little deeper than the general 
tint, and some scattered black specks, which are not round. Under side of fish lead-gray, 
unspotted. Pectorals blackish behind, and on the outer half on the anterior surface. Caudal 
spotted. Length 34 inches. Height 13. 
Hab. China seas. Canton (Rev. George Vachell). 
PLAGIUSA AURO-LIMBATA, Richardson. Jcon. Reeves, 151; Hardw. Malac. 
983. Chinese name, Kin peen tae shae, “Golden-winged sole” (Reeves); 
Kin peen ta sha (Birch); Hak tim tar sha (Bridgem. Chrest. 210). 
This fish, judging solely from the drawing, is elliptic anteriorly and tapers gradually to the 
end of the moderately acute tail, the height of the body, excluding the fins, being contained 
three times and a quarter in the length. The snout appears to be edged with membrane, and 
the dorsal commences above the level of the eye and rather before the mouth. Eyes less than 
a diameter of the orbit apart and placed over the middle of the mouth. Head one-fifth of the 
total length. Scales of moderate size. Lateral line quite straight. No ventrals shown in the 
figure. Colour uniform chestnut-brown, without spots, the fins being merely a little lighter 
and the fore part of the anal alone varying, being bluish-gray. Length of figure 103 inches. 
Hab. Coasts of China. Canton. 
PLAGIUSA PUNCTICEPS, Richardson. Jcon. Reeves, m. 95; Hardw. Malac. 
982. Chinese name, Nae pih (Birch). 
This figure corresponds with the preceding in outline, but the dorsal does not appear to 
reach before the eyes. Lateral line straight. Scales moderate. Colour yellowish-brown, with 
irregular blotches of a much deeper tint of the same scattered over the body, and many dark 
specks on the head. Length of figure 43 inches. 
PLAGIUSA NIGRO-LABECULATA, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, 152; non 
Hardw. Chinese name, Hih teen ta sha, “ Black-spotted sole” (Birch, 
Reeves); Hak tim tar sha (Bridgem. Chrest. 210). 
This fish has not the symmetry of auro-limbata, but its height has the same relative pro- 
portion to its length, and its colour is the same with the addition of about a dozen roundish 
black marks on the fore-part of the body and humeral region. Dorsal fin commencing pos- 
terior to the eyes. If the artist has been inaccurate in indicating the origin of the dorsal in 
this and the two preceding figures, they may be all varieties of one species. 
Hab. Coasts of China. Canton. 
PLAGIUSA GRAMMICA, Richardson. 
Two specimens of a Plagiusa, closely resembling the preceding two in form, exist in the 
museum of the Cambridge Philosophical Institution, to which they were presented by the 
Rev. George Vachell. The height of the body is contained three times and three-quarters in 
the total length, and the length of the head five times and two-thirds. Snout edged by a 
skinny membrane without rays, the dorsal commencing above the eyes and before the tip of 
the lower jaw. Eyes small and almost contiguous. Scales smaller than those shown in the 
figure of auro-limbata, strongly serrated on both sides of the fish. Lateral line straight. 
Ventrals situated in the same plane with the anal, one composed of four rays being distinct, and 
the other joined to the anal, and as it were forming its first four rays. Both are pointed. The 
anus is on one side of the second ventral and opposite to its last ray. Fins not scaly. Colour 
dark chestnut-brown, slightly streaked or shaded with umber, and marked by three irregular 
rows of dark vertical lines like Chinese characters. Length of specimen 33 inches. 
Hab. Coasts of China. Canton. 
PLAGIUSA ABBRBVIATA, Gray, Hardw. Ill. ii. pl. 94, f. 3. drawn from Mr. 
Reeves’s China specimen; Jcon. Reeves, 6.17; Hardw. Malac. 284. 
