GREA T BRITAIN. 227 



the anterior nostril is above the centre of the upper lip, and 

 scarcely tubular ; the posterior nostril is as .far behind the 

 anterior as the latter is from the end of the snout, it is 

 patent with slightly elevated edges. Teeth. Small, but 

 distinct on the blind side. Fins. The dorsal commences 

 in front of the upper eye. Ventrals free. Caudal rounded. 

 Scales. Ctenoid, and continued on to the fin-rays. Lateral- 

 line. Straight. Colours. Brown or gray on the coloured 

 side, frequently blotched with black. Vertical fins with a 

 narrow white outer edge. Pectoral usually with a black 

 blotch in its outer half, which is very distinct in the young. 

 " The colour of the sole depends upon and varies according 

 the quality and depth of the feeding ground ; (at Wey- 



louth) there are four prevailing varieties : (i) a dark sole ; 



5) a shrub sole, from the markings on the back having 



le appearance of shrubs ; (3) a lemon sole ; and (4) a 

 )tted sole. No. I is, I believe, caught in the shallowest 



-ater ; No. 2 next ; and Nos. 3 and 4 in the deepest water " 

 f. Thompson, Zool. 1851, p. 3375). 



Varieties. M. Capello states that examples from the 

 5ts of Portugal vary in the number of their fin rays from 



> 85-95, A. 74-78 (Journ. Sc. Matt, phys., e. nat. Lisbon, no. 

 ii., 1867, p. 164). Near the mouth of the Ouse a variety is 

 taken termed cardine ; its head is large and elongated, but 

 its flesh is rather coarse. Reversed examples are not rare, 

 neither are double ones or such as are coloured on both 

 sides. There are also semi-albino or piebald specimens. 



Thompson observes that those from the north of Ireland 

 vary considerably in form and colour, some being narrower 

 than others, and tapering more towards the tail. An 

 example 12 inches long from Brixham has the caudal fin 

 lost, and a new one formed continuous with the dorsal and 

 anal. 



Q 2 



