PISCES 203 
RHOMBOSOLEA PLEBEIA Richardson. 
SAND FLOUNDER. 
Plate XXXV. 
Rhombus plebeius Rich. in Dieffenbach, ii., 1843, p. 222. 
Rhombosolea monopus Gimnth., Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. iv., 1862, 
p. 459. Hutton, Cat. Fish, N.Z., 1872, p. 51, and (Hect.) 
p. 117, pl. ix., fig. 83. Macl. P.L.S. N.S. Wales, vi., 1881, 
De l29: 
Bowenia novae-zealandiae Haast, T.N.Z.1. v., 1873, p. 277, 
pl. xvi. 
Rhombosolea plebeia Gill, Mem. Acad. Sci. Phil. vi., 1893, p. 121. 
B. vii; D. 60; A. 43; V. 6; P. 11; C. 14 + 4; L. lat. 159; 
L. tr. 36 + 54; Vert. 10 + 18 = 28. 
Length of head 3.3, height of body 1.3 in the length. Lower 
eye one-third in advance of the upper, diameter (orbital) 4.9 in 
the head; interorbital space smooth, less than the depth of the 
eye: snout a little shorter than the eye, anterior nostril of both 
sides with a skinny process behind, posterior nostrils simple. 
Teeth.—In several rows in the jaws of the blind side only. 
Fins.—The dorsal commences on the snout, but not quite at 
its tip, though in advance of the nostrils; the first ray is almost 
free, the following ones successively less so; the 28-31 rays are 
the longest, being 2.2 in the head: the distance of the insertion 
of the last ray from the base of the outer caudal ray is one-half 
the depth of the peduncle: ventral and anal continuous, the 
division corresponding to the absence of one or two rays, the 
vent occupying the position; the longest rays of the anal are at 
least equal to the dorsals and occur at the 12-15th: the pectoral 
of the coloured side is slightly the longer, being 1.8 in the head; 
it has a wider base, but is placed exactly opposite to its fellow: 
caudal large, its margin rounded, the peduncle one-half the 
length of the fin. 
Scales—Fore part of snout, interorbital space and mandible 
naked: scales ecycloid, deeply imbedded and _ non-imbricate 
anteriorly, producing a honey-combed appearance. Lateral line 
feebly wavy above the pectoral, otherwise straight to the 
extremity of the tail, a branch is continued forward to the 
upper part of the head. 
Colours——Upper surface grey with clouded markings, fins 
dusky at the margins, lower surfaces colourless. 
Length.—386 mm. 
