BKILL, TOPKNOT, CAKTER, AND SCALD FISH. 175 



anal fins to the base of the tail, while the variegated 

 sole has the tail separated from them by a considerable 

 interval. 



The Brill, Pearl, Kite, or Bonnet-Fleuk (PJioinhus 

 vulgaris, Pleuronectes rhombus ; German : Der Glatthutt ; 

 Dutch: Griet), is very similar to the tm'bot, but smaller, 

 and of a more oval form. It is considered as inferior 

 to the sole, but much superior to the plaice. It is a 

 poor people's fish. 



The two species of Topknot [Bhomhiis lintus, Pleuro- 

 nectes punctatus), called *' Muller's Topknot " and 

 " Bloch's Topknot," are both somewhat rare; and 

 seldom exceeding Tin. or Sin. in length. They resemble 

 the brill in their roundish oval form ; they prefer low 

 shelving rocks, covered with sea-weed, where they are 

 not easily perceived. 



Muller's Topknot is not an uncommon fish in the 

 west of England. The largest examples seldom ex- 

 ceeding Tin. or Sin. in length. 



The Carter, or Whiff {Plewonectes j^seudopalus, PJiom' 

 bus megastoma), is also called Mary Sole, Queen Sole, 

 and Lanthorn-fish. These fish are rather difficult to 

 diagnose ; and I have been unable to get recent speci- 

 mens to make them out perfectly. 



The Scald-fish (PJiombus arnoglossiis, Arnoglossus la- 

 terna) is one of the smallest of the British flat-fishes, its 

 length not exceeding Sin. or Gin. It is exclusively con- 

 fined to the southern coast, and is called there Megrim. 

 It has obtained the name of scald-fish, because, when 

 caught with the least possible 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 suffer 

 the loss of its skin also ; so that the surface usually 

 appears as if the fish had been dipped in boiling water. 



