280 report — 1845. 



though they are united to its base by membranes. The dorsal commences over the anterior 

 edge, and there is no membranous edge from thence to the mouth, which is a little way be- 

 hind the very obtuse snout. Form ovate and very regular. Teeth nearly imperceptible and 

 existing on the reverse side of mouth only. A band of cuticular filaments commences on the 

 under lip and extends backwards to the lower edge of the gill-cover, fringing the gill-opening 

 on the pale side only. The lower eye touches the upper lip, and the eyelids of both eyes are 

 minutely scaly. Scales on both sides very strongly ciliated, but rather more rough on the 

 coloured or right side ; equally large on the head as elsewhere, and covering the fins in broad 

 belts above and below. Lateral line straight. Upper side of the four specimens, which are 

 preserved in spirits, grayish-brown, with a minute mottling a little deeper than the general 

 tint, and some scattered black specks, which are not round. Under side of fish lead-gray, 

 unspotted. Pectorals blackish behind, and on the outer half on the anterior surface. Caudal 

 spotted. Length 3£ inches. Height 1£. 



Hab. China seas. Canton (Rev. George Vachell). 



Plagiusa auro-limbata, Richardson. Icon, Reeves, 151; Hardw. Malac. 

 283. Chinese name, Kin peen tae shae, "Golden-winged sole" (Reeves); 

 Kin peen ta sha (Birch); Hah tint tar sha (Bridgem. Chrest. 210). 



This fish, judging solely from the drawing, is elliptic anteriorly and tapers gradually to the 

 end of the moderately acute tail, the height of the body, excluding the fins, being contained 

 three times and a quarter in the length. The snout appears to be edged with membrane, and 

 the dorsal commences above the level of the eye and rather before the mouth. Eyes less than 

 a diameter of the orbit apart and placed over the middle of the mouth. Head one-fifth of the 

 total length. Scales of moderate size. Lateral line quite straight. No ventrals shown in the 

 figure. Colour uniform chestnut-brown, without spots, the fins being merely a little lighter 

 and the fore part of the anal alone varying, being bluish-gray. Length of figure 10^ inches. 



Hab. Coasts of China. Canton. 



Plagiusa puncticeps, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, m. 95; Hardw. Malac. 

 282. Chinese name, Naepih (Birch). 



This figure corresponds with the preceding in outline, but the dorsal does not appear to 

 reach before the eyes. Lateral line straight. Scales moderate. Colour yellowish -brown, with 

 irregular blotches of a much deeper tint of the same scattered over the body, and many dark 

 specks on the head. Length of figure 4^ inches. 



Plagiusa nigro-labeculata, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, 152; non 

 Hardw. Chinese name, Hih teen ta sha, " Black-spotted sole " (Birch, 

 Reeves) ; Hak tint tar sha (Bridgem. Chrest. 210). 



This fish has not the symmetry of auro-limbata, but its height has the same relative pro- 

 portion to its length, and its colour is the same with the addition of about a dozen roundish 

 black marks on the fore-part of the body and humeral region. Dorsal fin commencing pos- 

 terior to the eyes. If the artist has been inaccurate in indicating the origin of the dorsal in 

 this and the two preceding figures, they may be all varieties of one species. 



Hab. Coasts of China. Canton. 



Plagiusa grammica, Richardson. 



Two specimens of a Plagiusa, closely resembling the preceding two in form, exist in the 

 museum of the Cambridge Philosophical Institution, to which they were presented by the 

 Rev. George Vachell. The height of the body is contained three times and three-quarters in 

 the total length, and the length of the head five times and two-thirds. Snout edged by a 

 skinny membrane without rays, the dorsal commencing above the eyes and before the tip of 

 the lower jaw. Eyes small and almost contiguous. Scales smaller than those shown in the 

 figure of auro-limbata, strongly serrated on both sides of the fish. Lateral line straight. 

 Ventrals situated in the same plane with the anal, one composed of four rays being distinct, and 

 the other joined to the anal, and as it were forming its first four rays. Both are pointed. The 

 anus is on one side of the second ventral and opposite to its last ray. Fins not scaly. Colour 

 dark chestnut-brown, slightly streaked or shaded with umber, and marked by three irregular 

 rows of dark vertical lines like Chinese characters. Length of specimen 3^ inches. 



Hab. Coasts of China. Canton. 



Plagiusa abbrhviata, Gray, Hardw. 111. ii. pi. 94. f. 3. drawn from Mr. 

 Reeves's China specimen ; Icon. Reeves, /3. 1 7 ; Hardw. Malac. 284. 



