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PISCES 197 
to common names, and all one can do is to adopt that most in 
common use, and attempt to fix it by means of publications, the 
more popular the better, and supplemented by effective, good 
coloured illustrations. If such were displayed on the trawlers 
and at the fish markets the attendant names would soon be in use, 
and I venture to think that uniformity of nomenclature would 
be in time secured. 
Though the common names suggested appear in the following 
account under their respective scientific headings, it will be 
advisable to give some indication of their synonomy as follows :— 
Suggested name. Other names. Scientific name. 
Black Flounder - Patiki - Rhombosolea retiaria 
Brill - - - Turbot - Ammotretis gunthert 
Greenback Flounder - Grass Flounder - Fhombosolea tapirina 
Lemon Sole - <Ammotretis rostratus  Pelotretis flavilatus 
Megrim - - Brill, Mahoa, Witch  Caulopsetta scapha 
New Zealand Flounder, 
Sand Flounder Patiki, Three corner, | Rhombosolea plebera 
Tinplate 
Sole - - - English Sole - Peltorhamphus 
novae zeelandiae 
Turbot - -  Ammotretis rostratus Ammotretis nudipimnis 
{ Rhombosolea flesoides \ 
\Rhombosolea leporina) Fhombosolea mallar 
Yellow-belly 
It is to be understood that in no case have I transferred any 
name from one species to another. To give an example: the 
name Brill appears to have been first used by Dr. Hector,?! who 
writes: ‘‘It has been termed Brill on account of its being the 
only one of our flatfish with the eyes on the left side of the 
head (Pseudorhombus scaphus) ; it is of small size and is so full 
of bones that it cannot be eaten with any comfort.’’ 
The fish indicated by this book name is commonly called 
Megrim or Witch, while the name Brill is freely used in connec- 
tion with Ammotretis guntheri, it is therefore here associated 
with this large and prime edible species. 
It might be argued that because the British Brill is a left- 
sided fish it is wrong to apply the name to a right-sided species 
in New Zealand; one cannot force names upon the public, but 
if two or more names are in use for the same species we are 
justified in attempting to secure uniformity of nomenclature 
within the Dominion, ‘‘Turbot’’ is the only name I have so far 
met with applied to Ammotretis nudipinnis, and this fish also 
(21) Hector, Edible Fish N.Z., 1872, p. 117. 
