THE FLAT-FISH FAMILY 2/3 



and yellow pigment had appeared. The later larval stages have 

 not been traced. 



The next stage known is the }'oungest shown in small 

 specimens trawled during the Irish Surv^ey at 80 fathoms, off the 

 Skelligs in August. The smallest of these was 19 mm. long (yVV 

 inch, or not quite ^ 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 e}'e. The pigment has 

 already disappeared from the blind side. The scales have not 

 yet appeared. 



Specimens 30 mm. long (il- 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 f 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 180 mm. (2 inches to 7-i- inches). One .series of these, 

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

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



T 



