FISHES. ^ 285 



low spring-tide allowed him to look for lobsters. The largest 

 he ever saw measured 8J inches in length. Doubtless it is very 

 common all round Scapa Flow, and in other suitable localities, 

 such as Kirkwall Bay. 



Ar nog I oss us megastoma (Donovan). Sail Fluke. 



"I had always believed this species was peculiar to Orkney. 

 There in sandy bays it sails ashore, cocking up its tail as 

 a sail, and is not got by fishing for. When Couch was 

 publishing his British Fishes in shilling numbers, I one day 

 picked up a Sail Fluke, and handed it over to the late Dr. 

 Duguid and Mr. John Iverach, chemist, the latter of whom 

 was taking in Couch at the time. It was admitted as a species 

 by Couch, and if you have the book, you will see what is said 

 about the fish. I have never seen the species out of Orkney " 

 (W. Eeid, in lit. 12/9/85). 



A curious fact recorded by Day is, that this fish in Corn- 

 wall rarely enters sandy bays, and that from its large prominent 

 eyes, it seems to be an inhabitant of the deep sea. 



Mr. Scarth (Day, Brit. Fishes, vol. ii. p. 22) says this species 

 is rarely seen on the shore in Orkney except between October 

 and April, and that the times they usually sail ashore is before 

 a storm or when a thaw sets in. 



Pleuronectus platessa, L. Plaice. 



Common. According to Low, not very large, nor is it much 

 sought after. 



Pleuronectes microcephalus, Donovan. Smear Dab. 



Day records two caught in July and August respectively, in the 

 year 1848, by Dr. Duguid and Mr. Iverach. 



Pleuronectes cynoglossus, L. Craig Fluke; Pole. 



In Land and Water Mr. Peace recorded the capture of two fish of 

 this species in May 1880, in Scapa Bay, within a day or two of 



