506 Survey of Fishing- Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, 1890—1891. 



In view of the deciduous character of the scales, we are fortunate in having 

 au almost complete specimen. We have, therefore, no hesitation in giving the 

 number of scales on the lateral line as 56. The scales of the upper side have 

 setose margins, those of the under side are smooth. In our specimen the second 

 and third dorsal fin-rays are elongate, the second being pronounced in this respect 

 (1'5 em.) in conformity with the character of the species. The first and second 

 are alone free. In the Plymouth specimen the second, third, and fourth rays are 

 elongate, the second having a broad plicated membrane stretching to an equal 

 extent on both anterior and posterior sides of the ray, the whole tapering and 

 curving towards the tip. In our specimen the membrane is not conspicuous on 

 the anterior side, nor can it be described as at all plicated. It gives the appear- 

 ance rather of a primary feather from a bird's wing. The conditions exhibited 

 by the two specimens show that either this secondary sexual character is capable 

 of considerable variation, or, as is more likely, our adult example (which is smaller 

 than Cunningham's) is in a stage intermediate between that of the young 

 examples, in which the rays, though separate, sliow no membraneous margins, 

 and that shown in Cunningham's s2Jecimen, which is figured. 



The proportions of our adult specimen may be more clearly understood from 

 the following measurements : — 



Length, including caudal fin, 12-1 cm., or 4| inches. 



Length without caudal fin, lO'O ,, or 3|f ,, 



Extreme height, 6'3 ,, or 2J ,, 



Height without fins, 4-5 „ or If „ 



Length of head, 2-7 „ 



Length of eye, 0-7 „ 



Length of second dorsal fin-ray, . . . . 1-5 „ 



Genus Pleuronectes, Giinther. 



Pleuronectes cynoglossus. The Craig-fluke or Pole-dab.* (Deep-sea.) 



Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, . Goode, " Proc. U. S. Kat. Mus.," iii., 1880, p. 475. 



. Goode, "Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., x., 1883, p. 195. 



. CoLLETT, " Norw. N. Atlant. Exp. Fish.," p. 150. 



. CoLLETT, "Forh. Vid. Selsk. Christ.," 1880, p. 82. 



■ . Strom, "Norsk. Vid. Selsk., Skrw.," 1884, p. 39. 



. Holt, " Sci. Proc. Roy, Dub. Soc," vii., p. 121. 



. Holt, " Trans. Roy. Dub. Soc," N.S., v., p. 84. 



* This fish is called "Witch," or "Witeh Sole," on the East coast of Great Britain, It is the 

 " "White Sole " of the Dublin market, though E. megastoma is also frequently dignified with that title for 

 commercial purposes. 



