THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 349 



posterior half of the same side, some of which at least are not 

 due to injury. The scales are small and of a less perfect shape 

 than in the subsequent stages, the number of concentric rings 

 for instance being fewer. The lateral spines are propor- 

 tionally long. Comparatively few, viz., three, four or five, of the 

 crenations, with the lines interrupting the concentric circles, 

 occur posteriorly, whereas in the adult about a dozen are 

 present. In many of the smaller scales only three spines exist, 

 and the median is smaller than the lateral. 



The next older stage is one 70 mm. in length, procured on 

 the same date (16th January), which represents a considerably 

 more advanced condition. The left eye appears more distinctly 

 in advance of the right. The scales now form a single plate 

 with concentric lines, the large central spine has greatly in- 

 creased in size in proportion to the lateral, and the number 

 of concentric rings is larger. 



These scales differ from those of the adult in being much 

 smaller, with fewer concentric lines, which moreover are wider 

 apart. The crenated anterior border is also feebly developed, 

 whereas in the adult it is a marked feature. Besides the 

 spines visible on the edge of the scale, the exposed surface 

 has several near the base of the large median one, and within 

 the adjacent border. 



The authors of the Scandinavian Fishes state that " In 

 September the young have attained a length of about 25 mm." 



The Norwegian or Ekstrom's Topknot. {Rhombus 

 norvegicus, Gthr. = Scophthalmus norvegicus, Smitt.) 



Mr Cunningham found on July 9th specimens, at first 

 thought to be Mtiller's topknot, ranging from 2'4 to 37 inches. 

 Moreover in March he found one a little over 3 inches quite 

 ripe, the pelagic ova measuring "9 mm. in diameter, and con- 

 taining a single oil-globule "l-S mm. in diameter. 



In a female examined at St Andrews on the 6th April', the 

 ovarian eggs were small, ranging from 0'34 to 0'152 mm., so 



1 Vide W. C. M. nth Ann. Rep. F. S. B. p. 227, PI. IV, fig. 5. 



