Fishes. 1827 



fingers ; this also varies in size, and has motion. In the sharks, the 

 pupillary aperture is irregular, being sometimes round, at others per- 

 pendicularly oval, and in some transversely so. But the length of the 

 pupil is generally, if not always, in the direction of the tapetum. 



Flounder Lantern, P. jiessus. Common in sandy and muddy 

 spots. It ascends rivers into fresh water, where the tide never 

 reaches. 



Dab, Fleuke, P. limanda. Common. 



Mary, Sole, P. microcephalus. Not uncommonly caught by the 

 trawl : it is but little esteemed as food. It occurs in Mount's Bay, 

 Whitsand Bay, Land's End, and St. Ives' Bay. Spawns in June. 



Holibut, Hlppoglossus vulgaris. Not uncommon off the Land's 

 End. It is the largest of all the " flat-fishes," but I have never seen 

 it on the Cornish shores of the size it attains in the North of 

 England. Mr. Yarrell describes it as attaining " near five hundred 

 pounds," while the largest specimen I ever saw was one hundred and 

 twenty-two pounds, and this was considered by the fishermen as a 

 large specimen. It feeds on Crustacea, and prefers stony ground to 

 all others. It breeds about April. 



Turbot, Rhombus maximus. Common, in particular localities. I 

 have known eighteen taken at one time on a " boulter " or long line. 

 They frequent sandy bays, and frequently change their habitats. It 

 is daily taken on some parts of the shores between St. Ives and 

 Mount's Bay ; but there is no regular fishery for it. 



Brill, Kit, R. vulgaris. Common. 



Miiller's Topknot, Rough Brill, Browny, R. hirtus. Not uncom- 

 mon. The habits of this fish differ very remarkably from any of its 

 kindred species. They frequent sandy bays and inlets ; this, the 

 rough ground bordering such localities. It prefers low, shelving 

 rocks, with ledges, covered with sea-weed, and hence is frequently 

 taken in the trammels or nets set for the sur-mullet. It breeds in the 

 summer and autumn, and in winter the young are of about one or two 

 inches in length, and may occasionally be found under stones at low 

 ter mark. The brill and the topknot appear to be liable to frequent 

 malformations about the dorsal fin. Frequently the anterior portion 

 is developed into an arch, which rises over the eyes ; the posterior 

 portion is liable to the same prolongation, and the first three or four 

 dorsal rays are frequently prolonged into membranous tendrils. 



Carter, Lantern, R. megastoma. Very common, being abundant 

 in all our sandy bays ; it is but little valued as an article of diet. If 



