464 PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. [PLEURONECTES. 



nearly bisecting the latter into two equal parts : the space between more 

 flattened, or with very little of a projecting ridge : basal and posterior 

 margins of the preopercle meeting at a less angle, the former being more 

 nearly parallel to the axis of the body : upper side of the body less 

 rough ; the lower one perfectly smooth : scales on the upper side 

 smaller, with more numerous and shorter denticles; the two middle 

 denticles, however, longer than the others ; the scales on the lower side 

 without any denticles : dorsal fin almost in close contact with the mouth ; 

 the first ray not longer than the succeeding ones: ventrals united, at 

 their posterior margins, to the anal, from which, at first sight, they are 

 scarcely to be distinguished; the vent placed between them: fleshy 

 portion of the tail not so long, or not so much projecting from the oval 

 of the body ; the dorsal and anal fins approaching one another more 

 closely on its under surface : 



D.96; A. 73; C. 16; P. 12; V. 6. 



{Colours.) For the most part similar to those of the P. punctatus : the 

 dark spots and markings are however better defined ; more particularly 

 a black, slightly angulated, band, passing across the head through the 

 eyes, and a large spot beyond the extremity of the pectoral, upon the 

 lateral line. 



Muller is the only author, so far as I am aware, who has distinguished 

 this from the last species. It appears to have been more often met with 

 in our seas than the P. punctatus. Pennant has evidently figured it 

 under the name of Smear-Dab, though the corresponding description 

 belongs to the Platessa microcephala of this work. A better representa- 

 tion of it is given in the last edition of the " British Zoology," from a 

 specimen obtained by Mr. Hanmer from the coast near Plymouth. More 

 recently it has been noticed on the Cornish coast by Mr. Couch, and on 

 the coast of Berwickshire by Dr. Johnston. It has also occurred near 

 the mouth of the Medway. Mr. Couch observes that it keeps in rocky 

 ground, and rarely, if ever, takes a bait. 



152. P. Megastoma, Don. (Whiff.) Body oblong; 

 the eye-side rough, with the scales finely ciliated : gape 

 large ; lower jaw longest : first rays in the dorsal fin 

 free, but simple. 



P. Megastoma, Don. Brit. Fish. vol. HI. pi. 51. Turt. Brit. Faun. 

 p. 97. Flem. Brit. An. p. 196. P. Cardina, Cuv. Reg. An. 

 torn. ii. p. 341. Passer Cornubiensis asper, magno oris hiatu, 

 (A Whiff,) Jago in Rays Syn. Pise. p. 163. fig. 2. Whiff, Penn. 

 Brit. Zool vol. m. p. 238. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 324. pi. 52. 

 Carter, or Lantern-fish, Couch in Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. p. 78. 



LENGTH. From twelve to eighteen inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Body oblong, the tail suddenly contracting before 

 the caudal ; thin, and rather pellucid : greatest breadth, dorsal and anal 

 fins excluded, not quite one-third of the entire length : head large, nearly 

 one-fourth of the same : dorsal curve falling regularly to the end of the 

 snout; the profile slightly concave before the eyes: gape extremely 

 large; lower jaw longest, ascending obliquely, furnished with a blunt 

 tubercle beneath the symphysis : both jaws with very fine velvet-like 

 teeth: eyes very large; their diameter at least one-fourth the length 

 of the head ; placed on the left side ; approximating ; the lower one most 



