194 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OP 





else depress the transparent portion of the globe below this 

 fold of skin, irrespective of which a portion of the iris forms 

 a semilunar veil at the upper part of the pupil. Cleft of 

 mouth deep, oblique, lower jaw the longer. Teeth. Small, 

 numerous, and in several rows in both jaws. Fins. Dorsal 

 commences on the snout in advance of the eyes ; at first 

 low, its rays increase in length to just beyond the centre of 

 the fin ; from thence they gradually decrease, ending a very 

 short distance from the base of the caudal fin. Ventral 

 commences under the throat, its longest rays equal two- 

 thirds the length of the pectoral. Anal commences slightly 

 before the base of the pectoral. Caudal rounded. The 

 skin on the coloured side is studded with numerous bony 

 tubercles, the blunt points of which are directed forwards, 

 those on the head are smaller than those on the body. 

 Lateral-line. With a curve anteriorly, and becoming straight 

 opposite the posterior end of the pectoral fin. Colours. 

 Superiorly sandy-brown, covered with more or less distinct 

 dark spots and blotches, these being likewise continued on 

 to the fins, giving them a mottled appearance. Under 

 surface of the body white. 



Varieties inform. Examples are occasionally met with 

 having a notch or depression at the summit of the head. 

 Mclntosh figures an abnormal form, and in his account of the 

 fish of North Uist, observes upon one with an eye on either 

 side of its head, as shown in Pleuronectes cyclops of Donovan. 

 Couch instances a turbot coloured on both sides, in which a 

 process three inches in length, thin in substance, and nearly 

 as broad as a finger, projected from before its eyes, and was 

 not connected with the fin rays. 



In colour, varieties are numerous ; there are such 

 as are partially albinos ; also reversed and double ones. 

 On 2nd August, 1874, a double one weighing^ i Ibs. was 

 taken at Montrose, where, remarks Mr. Johnson, " we see 



