211 



Fam. PLEURONECTlDAE. 



Aphoristia vaiiegata, ii.sp. 



(Plate XVIII.) 



D. 93. A. 88. V. 4. C. 14. 



Height of body 4^ times in length. Length of head 4^ times. 

 Snout 4 times in head. Eyes small, close together,^ iipper 

 slightly in advance of lower. Tubular nostril midway between 

 lower eye and snout, close on margin of upper jaw, angle of 

 mouth below centre of lower eye. 



Scales small, rough, about 120 in a longitudinal series from 

 upper angle of operculum to tail, 11 from eyes to angle of 

 operculum, 43 in a transverse series. There are no scales be- 

 tween eyes and end of snout, but they are continued forward 

 between the upper eye and the superior margin of the snout and 

 on the mandible. No scales were found between the closely set 

 eyes. Scales of both sides (1-3 mm.) oblong with relatively 

 strong spines on margin and extending on to scales in a patch 

 to less than a third of its length. Teeth villiform, equally 

 developed in both jaws. 



The dorsal fin begins over the posterior end of the upper eye, 

 contains about 93 rays, and is confluent with caudal, longest 

 ray (6 mm.) 2f in depth of body (16 mm.), first rays free. 

 Anal begins 5 mm. from insertion of pectorals or 18 mm. from 

 snout, confluent with caudal, longest ray equals that of dorsal. 

 Ventral reaches to beginning of anal, rays 4, situated on isthmus 

 where gill membrane crosses it. Vent immediately in front of 

 anal. Total length, including caudal, 78 mm., 69 without 

 caudal. 



Colour : 8 or 10 indistinct cross bands of very irregular 

 arrangement may be distinguished on body. 



Locality : Only one specimen procured, off coast of East 

 London (Buffalo River bearing North, distant 15 miles) by 

 shrimp trawl at a depth of 310 fathoms. 



[PUBLISHED 8th July, 1903.] 



