On rare and little-known Fishes from Madeira. 237 



valuable observations of Mr. C. Spence Bate*, this character of 

 the basicerite is well shown in representations of the Zoea of 

 Carcinus mcenas. Here we have the joint in question very large, 

 armed with a long spine on one side and the exocerite on the 

 other, while the rest of the antenna is in a rudimentary condi- 

 tion, and there is no coxocerite visible. This latter joint, with 

 its areola, makes its appearance at a later date, at the base of the 

 basicerite. 



The large comparative size of the exocerite in the embryo is in 

 accordance with what we observe in the gradations of adult 

 Crustacea. Those lowest in the series have generally the external 

 branch of their members most developed ; as we rise in the scale, 

 we observe the inner branch becoming more and more developed, 

 while the outer branch is reduced, and may disappear entirely. 

 Compare, for example, the thoracic feet of some Schizopods with 

 those of the Caridea and Brachyura. 



XXVI. — Notes on rare and little-known Fishes taken at Madeira. 

 By James Yate Johnson, Cor. Mem. Z. S. 



No. III. 



"Fam. Pleuronectidse. 



Solea oculata, Risso. 



D. G8. A. 51. P. 7. V. 4. C. 15. 



Left side white ; right side a pale brown, marbled with deeper 

 brown. On the anterior part of the body are five large patches 

 of very dark brown. The tail is also of this colour, and the 

 patch is divided from the paler colour of the body by a series of 

 six yellow spots. The most noticeable markings on the right 

 side of the body consist of four round or oval dark-brown, almost 

 black spots, each surrounded by a ring of small bright yellow 

 spots. These are arranged in two pairs, the members of each 

 pair being placed over against each other at the base of the 

 dorsal and anal fins respectively. A line drawn from one spot 

 of the first pair to the other would divide the fish into two nearly 

 equal portions. All the fins are edged with white. At the base 

 of the caudal fin there is a narrow band of pale brown ; the rest 

 of the fin is a darker brown. The irides of the eyes are bright 

 greenish-blue, surrounded by a ring of gold. 



The length of the head, compared with the total length, is as 

 1 to 5i ; the height, to the total length, is as 1 to 3. 



There are numerous soft papillae in the neighbourhood of the 



* Phil. Trans. 1858, pi. xl. f. B 3, &c. 



