MR. F. DAT ON SOME BRITISH FISHES. 315 



Crentlabrtts melops, Linn. 

 Crenilabrus Baillonii, Couch, Fish, of the Brit. Isles, iii. p. 45, pi. cxxxii. 



I have no hesitation in uniting these two forms as figured by 

 Couch. I received from Mr. Carrington, nearly two years since, 

 a beautiful example of C. melops, var. Donovani, Cuv. & Yah, 

 coloured as shown in my figure*. The specimen kept in spirit 

 has now lost nearly all its markings and become, on a casual 

 inspection, quite similar to Couch's figure. If the latter is ex- 

 amined, it will be seen that it has five rows of scales across the 

 cheek, and a dark mark behind the eye, as seen in C. melops, 

 whereas C. Baillonii, Cuv. & Val., has only two or three rows of 

 scales across the cheek and no dark spot behind the eye. Couch, 

 in introducing this fish to the British Fauna f , observes that he 

 does so " with some degree of hesitation ; but a drawing of one 

 which came a few years since into my possession, and which then 

 appeared to differ from the ordinary appearance of the Corkwing," 

 conveyed so near a likeness to Dr. Giinther's description of 

 Baillon's Wrasse, that he inserted it. Identifications of Wrasses 

 simply from coloured sketches is at ail times a dangerous plan ; 

 but when it becomes a question of two so nearly allied, it is 

 hardly justifiable. However, my kept specimen would be similar 

 to a fresh one some time from its native element ; and shows 

 the conclusion of Couch is inadmissible, his fish being C. melops, 

 Cuv. & Val. 



On February 11th I received from Brixhain two exceedingly 

 interesting examples of Pleuronectoids coloured on both sides of 

 the body, the one being a Brill, the other a Common Sole. The 

 remarkable phenomenon existed in both, that the eyes had gone 

 completely over in a perfectly regular manner to what should 

 have been the upper surface ; and, as will be seen in the coloured 

 drawings [exhibited], the dorsal fin is likewise in its normal posi- 

 tion in each specimen, or passing forwards anterior to either eye, 

 completely dividing the two sides of the head. 



Rhombus l^ivis. 

 This example of the Brill is 21| inches in length; D. 81, A. 56, 



* Drawing exhibited at the Meeting. 



t In Catal. Fish. Brit. Museum, 1862, iv. p. 84, "British Channel" is 

 given as one locality of its habitat, but its capture there is not otherwise 

 referred to. 



