27 



tlie number of lateral line scales gis^en in the numerical table. A scale from the 

 middle of the body (PI. XIV, 3) has 26 rows of spines, the middle rows having 8 spines 

 each. 



The posterior vertical portion of the curve of the lateral line oii the right side of the 

 head can be detected with difhculty, but the anterior part parallel to the base of the 

 dorsal fin is wanting altogether. The branches of the lateral line system on the left 

 side of the head in the previous species are also invisible in variegata. 



Colour. — The general colour is much brighter than that of either of the preceding 

 species, being a distinctly reddish-brown with markings deepening to black. Of these 

 markings the principal are five broad dark transverse bands, each of which terminates 

 at either end in a large intensely black blotch situated partly on the side of the body, 

 parti)' on the longitudinal fin. The first of these bands passes across just behind the 

 pectoral fin, the others are at about equal distances, the last covering the ends of the 

 dorsal and anal fins and the base of the tail. The central part of each band is only slightly 

 darker than the neighbouring surface, but its anterior and posterior edges are usually 

 very sharply defined. The darkening of the bands is produced by the presence of a thin 

 black border at the edge of the scales, and the sudden extension of this black border 

 over the whole scale produces the black blotch at each end of the band. Between the 

 principal bands there are lighter areas which are again marked by one broad or two 

 uarrow secondary bands : these also terminate in black patches, which in this case are 

 usually situated on the outer part of the fin and extend to its edge : these patches are 

 smaller and less regular than those belonging to the principal bands. There is a 

 single secondary band not very well defined passing over the operculum : the rest of 

 the head is almost uniform in colour. 



The anterior part of the tail, behind the last of the principal dark bands, is lighter 

 than any other part of the body, its tint being yellow, while the rest of the tail is dark 

 brown, the colour being here chiefly situated in the membrane between the rays. The 

 tips of the dorsal and anal fin-rays are, as in the preceding species, opaque white. The 

 Ijrightness of the red tint in the coloration fades considerably after death, approximating 

 more to grey. 



What was said of the relation of the colour to the scales in the preceding species 

 applies to this species also, but to a less degree; the extreme edge of every scale in the 

 lighter parts is brown, but each scale is everywhere more uniform in colour than in 

 vulgaris or lascavis. 



This species is well marked, and has generally been recognised by ichthyologists 

 since its first discovery. It was first distinguished in England by Donovan, who 

 obtained a single specimen from the London • market in 1807. He described and 

 fitTured it in his "British Fishes" under the name Pleuronectes variegatus as a nondescript 

 (new) species, although it has since been found that Duhamel had previously described 

 it in his " Poissons de la France " under the name Pole panachee. Donovan's coloured 

 figure is fairly good, but it represents the markings across the body as somewhat 



E 2 



