252 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [28] 



Pleuronectes hirius Abildgaard, MUller, Zool. Danica, 1788, 111,36, taf. 103. 



Rhombus hirtus Yarrell, Brit. Fish., ed. 2, ii, 334. Giinther, iv, 413, 1862, and of several 



authors. 

 Pleuronectes kitl Blocb & Schneider, Systema Ichthyologise, 1801, 162. 



Habitat — Coasts of Northern Europe, south to France. 

 The specimens of this species which we have examined are from the 

 North Sea. 



Genus XIV.— LEPIDORHOMBUS. 



Lepidorhombus Giinther, Catal. Fishes, iv, 411, 1862 {megastoma). 



Type : Pleuronectes megastoma Donovan = Pleuronectes ivhiff-iagonis 

 Walbaum. 



This genus contains one or two European species, related to Zeugop- 

 terus. but in general appearance resembling the species of Amoglossus. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF LEPIDORHOMBUS. 



a. Dbrsai rays, 85 to 87 ; anal rays, 67 to 69 ; depth, 2| in length ; head, 3£ ; interorb- 

 ital space a very narrow scaly ridge; mouth very large, the maxillary 2J in head ; 

 the anterior teeth hooked backwards, about 4 in head; eyes very large, the lower 

 somewhat before the otber; anterior rays of dorsal short, but considerably exserted ; 

 scales small, very deciduous. Lat. 1. about 100. Vertebrae 11+30=41. Color, yel- 

 lowish brown, dorsal aud aual with some dark blotches Whiff-Iagonis, 25. 



aa. Dorsal rays, 78 to 80; anal rays, 58 to 64 ; depth, 2£ in length; otherwise essen- 

 tially as in the preceding, of which it is probably a variety Norvegicus, 26. 



25. LEPIDORHOMBUS WHIFF-IAGONIS. 



(The Whiff, Merry Sole, or Sail FluIce.) 



Passer Cornubiensis, " Jago in Ray, Syn. Pise, 163, f. 2, " 1713. 



Whiff Pennant, " British Zoology, iii,238, 1776." 



Pleuronectes whiff-iagonis Walbaum, Artedi Piscium, iii, 120, 1792 (after Pennant). 



Pleuronectes megastoma Donovan, "Brit. Fish., iii, pi. 41, 1802," and of many authors. 



Rhombus megastoma Giinther, iv, 411, and of numerous authors. 



Zeugopterus megastoma Collett, Norges Fiske, 138, 1875. 



Amoglossus megastoma Day, British Fishes, iv, 21. 



Pleuronectes bosci Risso, Ichth. Nice, 1810, 319, pi. vii, f. 33 (Nice). 



Amoglossus bosci Giinther, iv, 416. 



Pleuronectes pseudopolus " Pennant, British Zool., iii, 324, pi. 411, ed. of 1812." 



Rhombus cardina Cuvier, Regne Animal, ed. 2, 1828 (excl. syn. pars), based on the Wbiff 



of Ray and la Petite Limandelle of Duhamel. 

 Zeugopterus velivolans (Richardson) "Yarrell, Brit. Fish., ed. 3, 1, 656," 1859. 

 Zeugopterus gottsehe " Winther, Ichth. Dan. Mar., 38." 



Habitat. — Coasts of Europe, most abundant northward. 



This species is not uncommon in Northern Europe, where it is held 

 in slight esteem as a food-fish, being thin, dry, and bony. It reaches a 

 length of probably less than 2 feet. 



Its names, " whiff," " merry sole," and " sail-fluke," are said to be de- 

 rived from its habit of frequently swimmiug at the surface of the water 

 " with its tail erected above the water, like a boat under sail." 



