THE FLAT-FISH FAMU^Y 



239 



larva two days old. As the larva develops with absorption of 

 the yolk the pigment becomes more abundant, and by the time 

 that all the yolk has disappeared it has fallen into a definite 

 arrangement consisting of five bands across the body. One of 

 these is behind the eyes, one in the region of the vent, and three 

 on the tail. Each band is not continuous but formed of separate 

 patches, three in the hinder bands, one on the body, and one on 

 the edge of the primitive fin above and below. No trace of 

 such bands has been made out in the adult fish. 



The next stage known in this species is that of a specimen 

 secured in the bottom tow-net off Tory Island, north-west of 

 Ireland, at 29 fathoms, during the Irish survey. The fish is 

 identified by its general appearance, and the presence of bars of 

 pigment like those described in the previous stage with an ad- 

 ditional patch at the end of the tail. The jaws are well 



Fig. 1 10. — Larva of Lemon Dab, or so-called Lemon Sole, two days old, alive and 



magnified. 



developed, and the abdominal region is shortened. The two sides 

 are still alike, except that the left eye has just begun to move 

 towards the edge of the head. The primitive fin above and 

 below the hinder region of the tail remains without bones, but 

 there is a commencement of the formation of the fin-rays of the 

 tail at the hinder end on the ventral side. This specimen was 

 I0'37 mm. long (just over f inch). It was taken in the month of 

 April. A number of specimens of an older stage were taken 

 in the shrimp trawl at 80 fathoms in August off the Skelligs, 

 south-west of Ireland. These were about 27 mm. long (just over 

 I inch) (Fig. ill). They had almost completed their trans- 

 formation, and were recognised as young lemon dabs from their 

 resemblance to the adult, and from certain of the distinguishing 

 characters which were already developed — for instance, the number 

 of the fin-rays. The shape of the body was characteristic, the 



