202 MALACOPTERYGII. 



" Compared with a specimen of P. hirtus. Mull. (6| inches in length, and like- 

 wise taken on the coast of Down),* the ridge between the eyes is much more 

 elevated, the difference being strikingly conspicuous when the two species are 

 placed together ; lateral line on both sides much arched within the range of the 

 I^ectoral tins, thence straight to the tail. 



" Tlie upper side presents as a ground colour a mixture of various shades of 

 light brown, with a round dark spot, 3 lines in diameter, commencing an inch 

 from the tail ; it is likewise marked with a very few smaller inconspicuous round 

 dark-coloured spots, and blotched irregularly with very dark rich brown. The 

 fins do not exhibit any round spots, as shown in Dr. Fleming's figure (Phil, of 

 Zool., vol. i. pi. .3), but are all irregularly marked on the upper side with many 

 different shades of bro^vn ; irides reddish-golden ; under side of body white, 

 with a very pale reddish tinge. In all characters not mentioned here this spe- 

 cimen accords with Mr. Jenyns' description (p. 462). 



" With Mr. Yarrell I agree in considering the Rhombus tmimaculatus of Risso 

 (Hist. Nat. I'Eur. Mer. t. iii. p. 252, f. 35) identical with this species. In the 

 number of rays in the fins, individuals appear to difl'er considerably, but perhaps 

 not more so than might have been expected when so great is their number." 



August 19<A, 1844. — Mr. G. C. Hyndman, when dredging in Belfast Bay, be- 

 tween Carrickfergus and Graypoint, in from 3 to 6 fathoms water, captured two 

 fishes of this species 3 inches each in length — beautiful little creatures, which I 

 have preserved. See Zool. Proc. 1837, p. 60. 



Top-knot Flounder, Pleuronectes ptiuctatus, Penn., vol. iii. p. 322, pi. 51. 



March 2bth, 1835. — I procured a specimen of this fish in Belfast market, 

 which was taken at Ardglass. The fish- venders had not seen a similar specimen 

 before. Its length is 6| inches. B. 7 ; D. 95 ; P. 6 rays on the upper and 11 

 on the under fin, the rays on the former longer and much stouter than in the 

 latter ; V. 6 (which are not only connected by a membrane with the A. but look 

 in profile like a continuation of this fin) ; A. 69 ; C. 1 7 (in all). 



In the above enumeration of the D. and A. fin-rays, the rays in the finlets at 

 the posterior extremity of each are not reckoned. These finlets have a very sin- 

 gular appearance, and are each composed of several single bifurcated and tri- 

 furcated rays; they should perhaps be called second D. and second A., though 

 from being placed on the under side these terms might be misapplied. 



Colour of upper side, including all the fins, dark brown marbled over and 

 obscurely spotted with darker shades of brown ; a small silver spot at base of P. 

 fin is all the contrast that appears to the general brown appearance, a band of 

 very dark brown runs in an obliciue direction towards the back from the upper 

 eye, and a similar one towards the vent from the lower, under side white, D. 

 and A. fins broadest towards the posterior extremity. 



Irides silvery clouded over with brown, pupil black, no sea-green appears, as 

 described by Pennant (" la prunelle est noir et I'iris d'un verd demer," Bloch, 

 vol. ii. p. 238) ; but the specimen, though quite fresh, may possibly have lost 

 this appearance. Lateral line on upper side has three turns within the first or 

 anterior portion, comprising about 1^ inch ; thence to tail quite straight. Lateral 

 line on under side differs in some degree from this. 



Bothjaics very thickly set with teeth. 



Lateral line strongly marked on upper side, though stated " to be rather in- 

 distinct " in Dr. Fleming's specimen (Wern. Mem. vol. ii. p. 241). 



" Jaws nearly equal," as described by Fleming. 



Breadth of body, exclusive of fins, 2 inches 7 lines. 



three last dividing each into two near the base, which divisions again, as in the 

 opposite one, become forked. This explanation will perhaps account for the 

 less number of D. and A. fin-rays set down to the present specimen than is 

 generally attributed to the species. The divisions here mentioned have probably 

 been reckoned as distinct rays. Pectoral fin larger on the upper than on the 

 under side ; ten rays in each. 



* See Proceedhigs Zool. Soc, 1837, p. 60. 



