338 FISHES AI^D FISHING. 



admirable "Illustrations of the Zoology of South 

 Africa." It was, however, known previously to Bar- 

 row, 1797, who, in his Travels (page 30), mentions it 

 in the following terms ; " Another Blennius, called 

 King's Eock Fish, is sometimes caught in Table Bay, 

 to which, from its resemblance to the Mursense of the 

 ancients, naturalists have given the specific name of 

 Muraenoides.'* 



I quote this passage for the purpose of contra- 

 dicting Dr. Smith, who says, that during one of the 

 several earthquakes which occurred many years ago, 

 at the Cape, one or more sand banks were formed near 

 the entrance of Table Bay, and that not long after, 

 the first specimens of this fish were obtained." It is 

 evident that by some mistake or other, he attributed 

 to the Xiphiurus what applies to the Stock-visch. 

 jPLEURONECTIDiE. 



41. SoLEA VuLGAKTJS. Cuv. {Tofig ; SoU.) Body 

 oblong, flat, pointing towards the tail ; snout, arcu- 

 ated, projecting beyond the mouth, which is fringed 

 below with small ciliated scales. Jaws unequal, armed, 

 on the under or white side only, with very minute, 

 crowded teeth; eyes, small, spherical, placed near 

 each other, on the upper or coloured side. Dorsal 

 and anal fins extending as far as the tail ; ventral 

 fins nrar the head ; tail slightly rounded ; lateral line 

 straight. Length, ten or fifteen inches. Upper 



