J24 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



The Witch has from 102 to 115 rays in the dorsal, 86 to 100 in 

 the anal, 18 in the caudal, 10 to 12 in the pectorals, and 5 or 6 in the 

 ventrals. The eyes are on the right side ; the mouth is at the end 

 of the snout ; the teeth are larger on the blind side. The eye is 

 large ; the body is long, oval, and thin. The bones of the head are 

 pitted ori the blind side. In the lateral line there are 115 scales; it 

 does not curve over the pectorals, and it gives off a dorsal branch. 

 The scales are cycloid on the blind side, and ctenoid on the upper 

 side. In colour this fish is plain pale brown above and smoky 

 white below. It reaches 17 inches in length. 



The Dab has from 65 to 78 rays in the dorsal, 50 to 62 in the 

 anal, 14 in the caudal, 10 or n in the pectorals, 6 in the ventrals. 

 There is a spine in front of the anal. The eyes are on the right 

 side ; the mouth is at the end of the snout ; the teeth are lanceolate, 

 and larger on the blind side. The lateral line has 86 to 96 scales ; 

 it makes a rounded curve above the pectorals. The scales are spiny, 

 and the skin is consequently rough ; the ridge behind the eyes is 

 smooth. The colour is brown, with or without dark spots. The 

 extreme length is 15 inches. This fish lives in sandy localities in 

 rather shallow water ; it feeds principally on crustaceans. 



The Flounder has from 60 to 62 rays in the dorsal, 39 to 45 in 

 the anal, 14 in the caudal, 10 in the pectorals, and 6 in the ventrals. 

 The dorsal and anal are highest in the hinder half, where they rise to 

 an angle, instead of being gently curved like those of the foregoing 

 species. There are 85 scales in the lateral line. The eyes are not 

 always on the right side ; the mouth is at the end of the snout ; the 

 teeth are conical, and larger on the blind side. There is a row of 

 spiny tubercles along the bases of the dorsal and ventral, and a 

 group of similar tubercles along the beginning of the lateral line. In 

 colour the Flounder is dark brown above and white below ; in 

 length it reaches 9 inches. It lives in sandy or muddy places near 

 the coast, in estuaries and harbours, and up rivers, even in fresh 

 water. It feeds on shrimps and other crustaceans, on molluscs, 

 fishes, almost anything animal. For a flat fish it is singularly active 

 and enterprising, and it can climb and cling by means of its ventral 

 fins. 



Polyprion. Plate i. PERCIDJE. 

 6. cemium, STONE BASS. Head ridged on top. 



In the dorsal are n spines and n or 12 rays, in the anal 3 spines 

 and 8 or 9 rays, in the caudal 17 rays, in the pectorals 16 or 17, in 

 the ventrals a spine and 5 rays. The dorsal spines form a regular 

 curve ; they are lower than the rays, which give a spatulate shape 

 to the hind portion of the fin, similar to that of the anal. The ridges 

 above the eyes form a sort of crest ; there is a prominent bony ridge 

 on the gill cover; the lower jaw projects. The scales are small ; 

 there are 120 in the lateral line. The colour is greyish yellow, 

 marbled or blotched; the fins are darker. The length reaches 

 6 feet. The Stone Bass is gregarious, and frequents deep water 

 where the bottom is rocky ; it also gathers round wreckage and any 

 timber on which there are barnacles. 



