ORE A T BRIT A IN. 217 



eye, and having joined the interorbital ridge, is continued 

 to the centre of the base of the caudal fin. Caecal pylori, 

 short. Colours. Vary very considerably, and depend upon 

 that of the ground of the locality which they inhabit, 

 but even then scarcely two will be found to be exactly 

 similar. The colour of the upper side is generally oliva- 

 ceous-brown, with or without darker blotches. Occa- 

 sionally examples are even dark, when they are termed 

 sea-flounders. The under surface is white. 



Young plaice and flounders of equal size may be dis- 

 tinguished, prior to the appearance of tubercles along the 

 s of the dorsal and anal rays of the latter, by the 

 ice having distinct scales, whereas they are rudimentary 

 the flounder. 



Varieties in colour. Double examples, or such as are 

 loured on both sides, are not uncommon ; also reversed 

 es. Some are partially or entirely albinos. Newman 

 recorded an albino-flounder with red eyes. "In 1862 an 

 albino variety was brought to me. Both sides were white, 

 and the fins and eyes pink " (Lowe, Norfolk Fauna). In 

 some there are orange spots, somewhat similar, but usually 

 less vivid, than seen in the plaice. On February 22nd, 

 1882, I obtained a number from Brixham, all having 

 orange spots similar to the plaice, and was informed that 

 this is an appearance peculiar to spring-time. Thompson 

 observes that the examples he examined thus marked were 

 taken in March. Some are of a rosy hue, termed Pleuro- 

 nectes roseits (Shaw), or of a flesh-red, with irregularly but 

 distantly placed dark-coloured spots, Platessa carnaria 

 (Brown). Higgins remarked on one he termed Platessa 

 melanogaster, notched above the eyes, of a very dark-brown 

 colour, almost black, on both sides. Newman continues 

 that it is a favourite trick of the fisher-boys to cut a notch 



