THE FLAT-FISH FAMILY 



273 



and yellow pigment had appeared. The later larval stages have 

 not been traced. 



The next stage known is the youngest shown in small 

 specimens trawled during the Irish Survey at 80 fathoms, off the 

 Skelligs in August. The smallest of these was 19 mm. long (^$5- 

 inch, or not quite f in). Its transformation is nearly but not quite 

 complete (Fig. 127). The right eye is on the left or upper side of 

 the head, and the front part of the dorsal fin has grown forward 

 to a point opposite the middle of that eye. The pigment has 

 already disappeared from the blind side. The scales have not 

 yet appeared. 



Specimens 30 mm. long (ii inches) are still more like the 

 adult, the posterior part of the body having grown broader. 







FIG. 127. Young Megrim or Sail-fluke, not quite inch long. From a preserved 

 specimen ; after Holt. 



Scales are developed at the root of the tail, and extend forwards 

 along the lateral line, but are absent elsewhere. In specimens 

 50 mm. long (2 inches) the scales are developed all over the skin, 

 except the head, abdomen, and along the basis of the marginal 

 fins. 



There cannot be much risk of error in considering these 

 specimens as the fruit of the preceding spawning season. If 

 spawned in April they would be four months old. Other speci- 

 mens were obtained during the Survey ranging in length from 

 56 mm. to 1 80 mm. (2 inches to J\ inches). One series of these, 

 taken also in August, were from 75 mm. to 130 mm. in length 



to 5 ^"inches). These were taken in Ballinskelligs Bay in 



T 



