THE FLAT-FISH FAMILY 



253 



the dorsal fin-membrane. Fig. 116 shows the appearance of the 

 larva at this stage. 



A stage in the transformation of the sole was seen in a speci- 

 men taken with a hand-net amongst the seaweed on Plymouth 



Fig. 116. — Larva of Common Sole, six days old, alive and magnified. 



Breakwater (Fig. 117). The left eye is still on its own side, but 

 very near the edge of the head. The specimen was 1 1 mm. 

 long (iVo hich). It differs from the corresponding stage of 

 the flounder by the great length of the dorsal and ventral 

 fins, which behind reach to the base of the tail, and the dorsal 

 in front is almost projecting over the rising left eye. The 



Fig. 117. — Transition stage of Common Sole, alive and magnified ; a. b. air bladder. 



fin-rays and skeleton are well developed. Other peculiarities 

 are the breadth of the abdominal region, and the presence of a 

 rather large air-bladder which is entirely wanting in the full- 

 grown sole. The pigment forms obscurely-marked spots. 



