468 PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. [SOLEA. 



the other species : scales differing both in character and general arrange- 

 ment; the appearance of them more strongly marked upon the under 

 than upon the upper surface : lateral line straight, but not very strongly 

 marked : tail narrower than in the Common Sole, though composed of 

 the same number of rays : 



D.81; A. 69; C. 17; P. 8; V. 5. 



Number of vertebrae forty- three. (Colours.) Upper surface a mixture of 

 orange and light brown, freckled over with small circular spots of very 

 dark brown, presenting a mottled appearance ; tip of the pectoral black : 

 under surface white. YARR. 



First obtained by Mr. Yarrell at Brighton, where it is said to be 

 "occasionally taken with the Common Sole by trawling over a clear 

 bottom of soft sand, about sixteen miles from the shore." Is known 

 there by the name of Lemon Sole. Has since been met with, in a 

 few instances, in the London market. Obs. This species is not the 

 Pleuronectes Pegusa of Risso, as was at first supposed by Mr. Yarrell. 

 It appears to be undescribed by any of the continental authors. 



(2. MONOCHIRUS, Cuv.) 



156. S. Lingula, Nob. (Red-backed Sole.) Eye-side 

 of the body light reddish brown ; dorsal, anal, and caudal 

 fins with dusky spots. 



Pleuronectes Lingula, Hanmer in Penn. Brit. Zool. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 313. pi. 48. P. variegatus, Don. Brit. Fish. vol. y. 

 pi. 117. Solea variegata, Flem. Brit. An. p. 197. S. Mangilii, 

 Bonap. Faun. ItaL Fasc. v. Solea parva, sive Lingula, RondeL 

 Pise. p. 324. Witt. Hist. Pise. p. 102. tab. F. 8. fig. 1. 



LENGTH. From six to nine inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Very much resembling the Common Sole, but 

 remarkably distinguished by the small size of the pectorals, that on the 

 eye-side being less than one-eighth the length of the head, that on the 

 side opposite scarcely perceptible : body rather thicker in proportion than 

 in that species ; the breadth hardly so great, equalling just one-third of 

 the entire length, excluding caudal : eyes rather nearer together ; the 

 upper one a little in advance: scales of a different form; oblong, but 

 always contracted about the middle; their free edges set with more 

 numerous denticles, varying from eighteen to twenty -one in number: 

 dorsal and anal fins with fewer rays, and not approaching quite so 

 near the caudal: 



B. 6; D. 77; A. 62; C. 19; P. (Right) 4; V. 5. 



In other respects the two species are similar. (Colours.) " Upper side a 

 very light brown, tinged with red ; the scales shewing a pattern, some- 

 thing like that of the Common Sole, though in proportion coarser ; the 

 dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, marked with brown or blackish spots, ex- 

 tending some lines to the body of the fish." HANMER. 



A local species obtained by Mr. Hanmer from the coast near Plymouth, 

 where it is said to be common in the Spring. It is probably the same as 

 the Pleuronectes variegatus of Donovan, which was procured by that 

 naturalist in Billingsgate market, and which is said to have been since 

 found at Rothsay, in Scotland*. The specimen from which the above 



Loudon's Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. vi. p. 530. 



