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Part III.- -Tenth Annual Report 
1884, has the right eye firmly seated on the ridge, the dorsal terminating 
behind it. No trace of otocystic spines exists. A little pigment in 
scattered specks occurs on the right side. The dorsal shows 62 rays, the 
anal 60. This, therefore, most nearly approaches the turbot. 
The next specimen to be considered in this connection was captured in 
the hand-net at the tidal margin of the Eden on the 11th August 1884, 
and measures about 22 mm. The body generally resembles that of a 
brill. All that indicates otocystic spines, however, are two hard patches 
on each otocyst. Though the left is the deeply tinted side, the right has 
also a general distribution of blackish chromatophores in the spirit- 
preparation. The dorsal has 75 rays ; the anal has 54. Both eyes are 
on the left, and the dorsal has advanced to about the mid-ocular region. 
A specimen reaching in all probability to 23 or 24 mm. (for the tail is 
injured) comes from the same place (estuary of the Eden) on the 25th 
July 1884, and in coloration it corresponds with the foregoing. The 
right eye is not quite so far to the left, for the dorsal fin has not reached 
the centre of the eye. The dorsal has 74 rays, and the anal 56 to 57 
rays. It is probably a brill from which the spines have disappeared, 
but it also approaches the turbot, though the dorsal rays are more 
numerous. 
A somewhat larger specimen captured in the trawl on the 20th August 
is 29 mm. in length and resembles a brill in general outline. The right 
side has many blackish pigment-specks, as in the younger forms. Two 
hard regions occur on the otocyst, but no spines. The dorsal fin has 
advanced considerably in front of the right eye, which is separated by a 
distinct space from the fin. The dorsal has 75 to 76 rays, the anal 59. 
The microscopic investigation gives no help in determination, for scales are 
not yet developed. 
In order to test the condition of the rays of the dorsal and anal fins in 
young forms about which there could be no doubt, Mr Collinge examined 
for me eight young turbot ranging from 41 to 62 mm. In any order 
these present the following conditions : — 
Dorsal. Anal. Dorsal. Anal. 
59 50 65 48 
65 53 67 53 
62 47 66 54 
61 46 66 52 (41 mm. long) 
Thus none presented a higher figure than 67 for the dorsal, or had fewer 
than 59 ; while the highest for the anal was 54, and the lowest 46. 
A young turbot, 6 by 4 J inches, from the seine of 5th February 1892, 
had dorsal 62, anal 50, and caudal 17. 
In the same way two young brill measuring respectively 50 and 61 
mm. gave — - 
Dorsal. Anal. 
82 69 
77 62 
In considering the rate of growth of the young turbot, the condition of 
some of the common pleuronectids, such as the plaice and dab, may now 
be examined. 
In May the rock-pools at St Andrews abound with young pleuronectids, 
ranging from 14 to 17 mm., with a considerable amount of pigment on the 
right side, and affecting both fins and general surface in the usual manner, 
while the left side is quite pale. Both eyes are on the right, though the left 
is still on the ridge, and can be seen in almost all from the left side, the 
rate of progress varying according to the degree of development. They are 
evidently very young fishes ; yet the development of the fin-rays has made 
rapid progress since the pelagic stage, the tips of the rays now projecting 
