201 
MALACOPTERYGII. 
nored by me, were 22, 23, and two of them 231- inches in length. In the 
stomach of one I found a Callionymus Dracunculus 3 inches in length, and 
the remains of three small Gadi : in another were three examples of Mer- 
langus vulgaris, about 3 inches long ; a third contained only shrimp-like 
crustaceous animals. A whiff purchased here on Oct. 21, 1836, had just 
shed her ova, as evinced by a few mature ones only remaining. 
The colours of this fish are peculiarly unattractive. Of nine examples 
of which the colour and markings were noted down, I find that 
the greater number were of a greyish brown (a washy ground), with 
blackish markings of a hue as if originally black, but partly washed out. 
In some specimens small and numerous markings (more so than in 
Donovan’s fig.) ; in others, several large roundish markings only. Only 
one example could be called handsomely marked. It was of a rich colour, 
although light, brown with conspicuous markings all over, but aksome little 
distance from each other, with small dark brown spots. — Under side white 
without markings. 
Whiff? Pleuronectes Megastoma? Don. pi. 51. 
Length 22 inches. 
D. 86 ; P. 12 ; V. 6 ; A. 67 ; C. 15 (not reckoning lateral rays, of 
which there are two at each side, making in all 19) ; B. This specimen, 
which I purchased from Nichol, was, he informs me, procured by him in 
Belfast market, late in spring, 1833. 
D. and A. fins widest towards posterior extremity, and not in the cen- 
tre, as described by Donovan and Fleming, p. 196, to be the case in those 
of the whiff. 
Whiff, Pleuronectes Megastoma, bought in Belfast market, Oct. 21, 
1836. It was taken at Bangor. 
Length 22 inches, lateral line as figured by Donovan, but the anterior 
arch not just so abrupt. 
D. 89; A. 67 ; V. 6 ; P. 11 (on upper side 1st very short, 4th longest, 
length 2\ inches) ; P. 10 (on under side, 1st very short, 6 and 7 equal, 
and longest 1^ inch long) ; C. 17 in all. 
Greatest breadth of fish, without reckoning fins, 8 inches, and central 
between base of tail and upper jaw. It differs from Mr. Yarrell’s descrip- 
tion in the eyes being equal ; they are 1 or 2 lines from anterior to pos- 
terior (not in diameter, as they are not round), pupil black encircled with 
a narrow line of silver colour tinged with pale yellow. The arch at the 
anterior part of the lateral line much more conspicuous than the straight 
line forming its base, and scales similar to those extending posteriorly in a 
straight line to tail. 
Colour of entire upper side and fins ? but of a greyish brown, with ob- 
scure spots much more numerous and smaller than appear in Donovan’s 
figure ; under side white. 
Pleuronectes Megastoma. See notice of specimen described by me in 
Oct. 21, 1836. 
Jan. 3, 1837. I bought a specimen in Belfast market taken at Ard- 
glass. Length 23^ inches, lateral line as figured by Donovan, but the arch 
not so abrupt posteriorly. 
D. 87 ; A. 69; V. 6 ; P. 11 ; on upper side, 10 (on under 1st ray very 
short on both sides, it and the second ray simple on both sides, remainder 
branched) ; C. 17 in all. Branchiostegous membrane, 7 ; 3rd ray of P. long- 
est. P. 2| inches long on upper, 1^ inch long on under side. Greatest 
breadth of body, exclusive of fins, 7^ inches, and central between base of 
tail and upper jaw. 
