pleuronectidje. 25 



Genus VI— Pleuronectes, Artedi. 



Platessa, Cuvier ; Limanda, Microstomias, and Glyptocephalus, Gottsche : 

 Platichthys, Girard ; Glidoderma, Pseudopleuronectes, Brachyprosopon, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals five to seven : pseudobranchice present. Eyes on the right side: 

 the upper not in advance of the lower. Cleft of mouth shallow. Teeth of a moderate 

 size, in a single or double row in each jaw, and which are most developed on the blind 

 side : none on the vomer or palate. Dorsal fin commences above the eyes : both 

 pectorals present. Vertical fins not confluent. Scales small or rudimentary. 



Considerable differences are observable in the species composing tbis genus, as 

 may be perceived wben observing tbe numerous sub-divisions into which it has 

 been subjected. Irrespective of this, considerable variations are found among 

 individuals belonging to the same species, as has been already remarked upon as 

 a family characteristic (see page 3). While Gill has observed a species in which 

 the male has rough and the female smooth scales, while during the breeding 

 season the teeth are movable in both sexes. 



As bait for these fishes on foul ground lug- worms and pieces of the flesh of the 

 conger or herring are much used. But the majority along the British coasts are 

 obtained by means of the beam trawl. I shall defer the consideration of this 

 mode of fishing until arriving at the valuable genus of Solea (page 37) . 



The British forms belonging to this genus have been thus divided : — 



A. Teeth lanceolate and compressed. 

 a. Lateral-line nearly or quite straight. 



1. A spine before the anal fin. 



1. Pleuronectes platessa, D. 66-77, A. 50-57. Rough interorbital ridge. 



2. Pleuronectes microcephalics, D. 85-93, A. 70-76. Yellowish, blotched with 

 darker patches. 



2. No spine before the anal fin. 



3. Pleuronectes cynoglossus, D. 102-115, A. 86-97. 



b. Lateral-line strongly curved anteriorly. 



4. Pleuronectes limanda, D. 65-78, A. 50-62. 



B. Teeth conical. 



a. Lateral-line with a slight curve anteriorly. 



5. Pleuronectes flesus, D. 60-62, A. 39-45. Ossicles at base of dorsal and anal 

 rays. 



A. Teeth lanceolate and compressed. 



a. Lateral-line nearly or quite straight. 

 1. A spine before the anal fin. 



1. Pleuronectes platessa, Plate CI. 



Passer vulgaris and Quadratulus, i, p. 143; Belon. i, p. 142. Passer, pt. 

 Rondel, xi, c. 7, p. 316 ; Gesner, pp. 664, 670 ; Schonev. p. 61 ; Ray, p. 31. 

 Alia passeris species, Rondel, xi, c. 8, p. 318. Passer Icevis, Aldrov. ii, c. 47, 

 p. 243 ; Jonston, i, tit. iii, c. 3, art. 2, punct. i, t. xxii. Pleuronectes, sp. Artedi, 



