128 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



and in length it attains 16 feet. It is a deep-sea species, of which 

 there have been only a few British examples. From the paddle- 

 like tips of its ventral s it is also known as Banks's Oar-fish ; 

 it swims with lateral undulations. 



Rhina. Plate xxxi. SQUATINID&. 



237. sguatina, MONK FISH. Body flat ; tail thick ; eyes wide apart. 



This ugly fish has a broad flat body, with large paired fins. The 

 dorsals are equal in size, and placed far back on the tail ; there is no 

 anal ; the caudal is well developed ; the body tapers gradually into 

 the tail, which is much thicker than in the rays. The eyes are 

 curiously wide apart, and the mouth is large, and has several rows 

 of sharp conical teeth. The colour varies with the ground in which 

 the fish hides itself. It reaches 8 feet in length, and preys on flat 

 fish. In appearance it somewhat resembles a monk with a cowl 

 over the head. Its other name of Angel-fish is derived from the 

 wing-like shape of its fins. 



Rhombus. Plates xix. and xx. PLEURONECTIDJE. 



151. maximus, TURBOT. With tubercles instead of scales. 



152. leevis, BRILL. With scales and without tubercles. 



The Turbot has its eyes on the left side. Its dorsal has from 61 

 to 72 rays, its anal 45 to 56, its caudal 15 or 16, its pectorals have 

 ii or 12, and its ventrals 6. The dorsal begins between the eyes, 

 and is highest where the body is broadest ; the anal begins midway 

 between the ventrals and pectorals. The lateral line curves over 

 the pectoral, and then becomes straight. The body is shaped like a 

 diamond, and has no scales, but blunt, bony tubercles. The mouth 

 is large and placed at the end of the snout ; the jaws and teeth are 

 alike on both sides. The colour above is mottled and speckled 

 brown, darker or lighter according to the ground on which the fish 

 lives ; below it is white. The average length is 17 inches ; but 

 specimens measuring 28 inches have been taken. It is broader in 

 proportion than the Brill, and, like it, feeds on other fishes. 



The Brill has from 63 to 85 rays in its dorsal, 50 to 63 in its anal, 

 15 to 17 in its caudal, n or 12 in 'its pectorals, and 6 in its ventrals. 

 Its eyes and colour are on the left side. The dorsal begins in front 

 of the upper eye, and the first rays are fringed. The dorsal and 

 anal are highest in the hinder half ; the anal and ventral are not 

 attached to the caudal ; the pectoral on the blind side is smaller 

 than the other. There are 150 cycloid scales in the lateral line, 

 which curves over the pectoral ; there are no tubercles, hence the 

 smoothness recorded in its specific name. The mouth is large, and 

 placed at the end of the snout ; the jaws and teeth are alike on both 

 sides. In life the colour is speckly brown ; when dead it is dark 

 and without speckles. The Brill is generally about 20 inches long, 

 but has been known to reach 26. It is longer than the Turbot in 

 proportion to its width, and, like it, lives in rather shallow water. 



