756 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES [Dec. 2, 



their crowns somewhat obtuse ; teeth most developed on the blind 

 side. Fins. Dorsal commences over the middle of the upper eye, its 

 longest rays being in its middle, where they are three fifths of the 

 length of the head ; posteriorly the fin terminates almost close to 

 the root of the caudal fin, which latter is wedge-shaped. Anal 

 similar to dorsal, but its middle rays not so elongated. Both 

 pectorals with twelve rays, the left half as long as the head, the right 

 one fourth longer than the left. Ventrals each with six rays, and 

 one half as long as the pectoral. Scales cycloid on left, feebly ctenoid 

 on the right side, none over the Jin-rays except on the caudal. Lateral 

 line with very slightly oblique descent above the pectoral fin, 

 whence it proceeds direct to centre of the caudal. Gill-rakers short, 

 spinate, and widely separated. Ceecal appendages two, moderately 

 developed. Colours: right side brown, with a slaty tinge, darkest 

 about the head ; a black blotch on the upper half of the pectoral fin ; 

 vertical fins of a greyish slate-colour, the anterior dorsal rays being 

 tipped with white ; left side white. 



Habitat. A single example 9 inches long, from Megavissey, 

 Cornwall, obtained and recognized by Mr. Matthias Dunn. Yarrell's 

 example, a dried skin, had probably shrunk, causing it to appear 

 more elongated than is natural. It is more closely allied to P. 

 cijnoglossus. 



Pleuronectes flesus, Linn. The Flounder. 



Reversed examples were exceedingly numerous, and in one instance 

 I saw a Flounder coloured on both sides. I would here draw 

 especial attention to four abnormally coloured Plaice and Flounders 

 in the Westminster Aquarium, all of which are white on the under- 

 side ; the eyes are normal ; while the albinism I am about to de- 

 scribe has existed from the time they were received, neither in- 

 creasing nor diminishing. In one (1) the dorsal and anal fins 

 are white to a great extent, but in rather an irregular manner ; (2) 

 the dorsal and anal fins are similar to no. 1, but the white has ex- 

 tended onto the sides of the body ; (3) the white is rather more 

 spread than in no. 2 ; (4) the caudal fin and most of the posterior 

 half of the body are nearly white, whereas the anterior portion of 

 the body is mottled. If, as suggested by A. Agassiz, the colours 

 of these fish are affected owing to the eye, on what will eventually 

 be the uncoloured side, passing over to the upper surface, leaving the 

 eyeless side colourless, due to the controlling power of the nerve 

 having become unable to act over the colour-cells, how, one would 

 suggest, can this albinism be present in examples wherein both 

 eyes are present on the dark side thus affected ? 



Solea vulgaris, Quensel. The Sole. 



Small ones were common in the shrimp-nets at Weston ; and Mr. 

 Mable writes me word from Weston (Sept. 13) that, " during the last 

 few days, a large quantity of very fine Soles have been taken here. On 

 inquiry I find they were caught about 30 miles down the Channel by 

 two trawls from Cardiff; the gross weight was 10 tons, and the heaviest 



