177 



MEGRIM. 



SCALDFISH. 



Arnoglpssus Bondeletiii 



Pleuronedes arnogJossus, 

 " arnoglossus, 



JRJiomhus arnoglossus, 

 Arnoglossus laterna. 



WiLLOUGHBY; p. 102, Table F. 8, f. 7; 



copied from Ron dele tins. 

 Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 197. 

 Jenyns; Manual, p. 465. 

 Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 345. 

 GuNTHER; Cat- Br. M., vol. iv, p. 417. 



This little fish is with us one of the least regarded of the 

 family of Flatfishes, chiefly on account of its small size, which, 

 when of full growth, seldom reaches six or seven inches, but 

 more frequently it is found of four or five inches in length. 

 It keeps in the deeper water on sandy ground, and I have not 

 known it take a bait, which may hapj^en however because at 

 the depth of water it frequents the hooks are larger than suit 

 ics mouth; but it is often swept up with the trawl, and some- 

 times it is found in the stomachs of the larger fishes, among 

 which the Conger is a principal devourer. 



But the most remarkable portion of the history of this fish 

 is that from which it has obtained the name of Scaldfish, and 

 in which it differs from all the flatfishes with which we are 

 acquainted. Even when caught with the least amount of injury 

 it is found to have lost the greater portion of its scales, and 

 it only requires a slightly rougher handling for it to suff'er the 

 loss of its skin also, so that the surface usually ajjpears as if 

 the fish had been dipped in boiling water. It may be on this 

 account, and from the small quantity of flesh that covers its 

 bones, that with us it is not employed as food; but Rondeletius 

 speaks of it as a delicacy for the table. 



The example selected for description measured four inches 

 VOL. 111. 2 A 



