1890.] SOME BRITISH PLEtJRONECTID^. 41 



by the discovery by the Bev. W. S. Green of a fish on the coast of 

 Ireland which proves to be an adult specimen of the true A. 

 grohmanni. Thanks to the kind help of the Marquis G. Doria, 

 Professor Doderlein of Palermo, and Professor Bellotti of Milan, I 

 have materials before me which place the question beyond any doubt, 

 the result of my examination being : — 



1. That the two species are quite distinct, and well characterized 

 by constant characters. 



2. That both species are found both in the Mediterranean and on 

 the British coasts, but are rarer in the latter area. 



3. That the outlines of the figure in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, pi- 53, 

 are taken from a British specimen of ^. lophotes^, with the scaling and 

 markings added from a Mediterranean A. grohnanni. 



The arguments brought forward by Mr. Day in support of his 

 assertion that the two species are identical were the following : — 



1. That he had received specimens of -4. jfroAiHawwi from Prof. 

 Giglioli of Florence, " which are identical with Prof. Moseley's fish." 

 If that was the case, and if those specimens had the four or five 

 anterior dorsal rays prolonged, and not the second only, then I 

 have no hesitation in stating that those specimens were misnamed 

 A. grohmanni. 



2. That " the typical specimens of ^1. Jophotes are stretched or ab- 

 normally elongate skins." It is quite possible that these skins are a 

 little more elongate than the fishes were whilst in the flesh ; but all 

 the fresh specimens of A. lophotes have a more elongate body than 

 adult and haifgrown specimens of ^. grohmanni, as may be seen on 

 comparing the figure of this species now given (Plate III. fig. A) with 

 the figure in P. Z. S. 1882, pi. 53. And in conformity with this 

 greater prolongation of the body, the numbers of the fin-rays and 

 transverse series of scales are larger in A. lophotes than in A. groh- 

 manni. I have to add, however, that the smallest and youngest 

 specimen of A. grohmanni (2| inches long), which I received among 

 those sent by Prof. Bellotti, has the body more elongate than older 

 examples : a very common occurrence in the Pleuronectidse. 



3. That the numbers of fin-rays show greater variations in Pleuro- 

 nectoids than in other fishes ; that, for instance, in the Lemon Sole 

 {Solea lascaris) the number of dorsal rays varies between 65 and 89, 

 and of the anal between 52 and 70 ! This is contrary to the obser- 

 vations of almost all ichthyologists (Mr. Day included) : the fin-rays 

 of Pleuronectoids do not vary more than in other fishes with a 

 similarly great number of fin-rays ; and the statement of so extra- 

 ordinary a variation as the one referred to can only be accounted for 

 by the observer having mixed up several species. The following 

 table of the fin-rays of our specimens of A. lophotes and A. groh- 

 manni will be, however, more to the point than any far-fetched 

 comparisons of doubtful value. 



'^ The specimen when brought to the Museum by Professor Moseley imme- 

 diately alter its capture had lost not only the scales, but also the integuments; 

 aud of course every trace of colour was gone. 



