6i LECTURE VIII. 



the Pacific Ocean, which is smaller than the others, 

 and has ten bars only across the head. 



Of the whole tribe of Fishes 5 few are more re- 

 markable than the genus Pkuroncctes, which con- 

 tains the different kinds of Flounders, Turbots, 

 Soles and other Fishes of similar kind. In this 

 genus nature exhibits a most extraordinary devia- 

 tion from her usual plan in the formation of ani- 

 mals : the two sides in this genus representing an 

 upper- and under surface, one appearing at first 

 view to be the back, and the other the belly of the 

 Fish. The eyes are placed on one side only, and 

 the animal generally swims, not in the manner of 

 other Fishes, but sideways, or with the coloured 

 surface upwards and the pale one downwards* In 

 order to facilitate the investigation of this numerous 

 genus, Linnasus divides them into such as have 

 the eyes looking either to the left or the right. 

 If a Fish of this nature be laid with its coloured 

 side upwards, and its belly towards the observer, 

 then if the eyes are on the right hand, it belongs 

 to the division Oculis dextris of Linnssus : if on 

 the contrary the eyes are on the left hand, it then 

 must be sought for in the left handed division of 

 the genus, or among those, in the Linneean phrase, 



