454 PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. [RANICEPS. 



(Colour.) Deep brown, the folding of the lips excepted, which are snow- 

 white: irides yellowish. DAVIES. 



Pennant's description of this species was taken from a specimen sent 

 him from Beaumaris by Mr. Hugh Davies, which gentleman has given 

 some additional particulars respecting it in the last edition of the " British 

 Zoology." Within these last three or four years, it has been obtained 

 from Berwick Bay by Dr. Johnston *, a circumstance conclusive as to the 

 existence of the species t, though it is still but little known to many 

 of our naturalists. 



(27.) R. Jago, Flem. Brit. An. p. 194. Barbus minor, (The Lesser 

 Forked-Beard), Jago in Ray's Syn. Pise. p. 164. fig. 8. Couch in 

 Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. p. 75. Lest Hake, Penn. Brit. Zool. 

 vol. in. p. 195. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. HI. p. 261. 



There is great reason for believing that this supposed species, obtained 

 by Mr. Jago from the coast of Cornwall, where it has been since found 

 by Mr. Couch, is identical with the R. trifurcatus last described. Jago 

 says but little of his fish by which it can be recognized. He has, however, 

 annexed a figure, which, allowing for the rude style in which drawings 

 were executed in those days, might easily be intended for the species just 

 mentioned. The following is Mr. Couch's description of his own speci- 

 men. " Length ten inches : head wide and flat : eyes forward and pro- 

 minent: under jaw shortest: teeth in the jaws and palate, sharp and 

 incurved, and some in the throat : a small barb at the under jaw : body 

 compressed, smooth : first dorsal fin triangular and extremely small ; 

 second dorsal fin and the anal fin long, ending in a point : tail round : 

 ventral fins with several rays, of which the two outermost are much 

 elongated, the longest measuring two inches : the fins all covered with 

 the common skin : a furrow passing above the eyes to the back. Stomach 

 firm, with longitudinal folds : no appendix to the intestines : air-bladder 

 large, and of unusual form. In the intestines were the remains of an 



GEN. 54. PLATESSA, Cuv. 



141. P. vulgaris, Flem. (Common Plaice.) Rhom- 

 boidal : a row of osseous tubercles on the eye-side of the 

 head : lateral line curved above the pectoral : body smooth : 

 teeth blunt, contiguous. 



P. vulgaris, Flem. Brit. An. p. 198. Pleuronectes Platessa, Linn. 

 Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 456. Block, Ichth. pi. 42. Don. Brit. Fish. 

 vol. i. pi. 6. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 96. Passer Bellonii, Witt. 

 Hist. Pise. p. 96. tab. F. 3. Plaise, Penn. Brit. Zool vol. HI. 

 p. 228. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. HI. p. 304. Plie franche, ou Carrelet, 

 Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 338. 



LENGTH. From twelve to eighteen inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Subrhomboidal ; the tail very much contracted 

 before the caudal : greatest breadth just half the length, fins excluded : 



* Proceed. ofBerwicksh. Nat. Club. p. 7- 



t Donovan has asserted in the Preface to his "British Fishes," that the Trifurcated Hake of 

 Pennant is not in being, and that the description in the British Zoology was taken from a damaged 

 skin of the Forked Hake. This opinion appears to have been adopted by Dr. Leach. See Wern. 

 Mem. vol. n. p. 59. 



