THE SOLENETTE. 
207 
description of the Pleuronectes variegatus (vol. v. p. 117), but differ remark- 
ably from his figure in colouring ; nor in this respect do they agree entirely 
with Hanmer’s figure (Penn. Brit. Zool., vol. iii. pi. 48, ed. 1812), with which 
I consider them identical, as they want the blotches of black represented on 
the dorsal and anal fins. They also differ a little from each other in colouring, 
the largest being of an uniform reddish brown on the upper side ; the two 
smaller of a paler shade, with a series of roundish black spots on the body, a 
short way inwardly from the back of the dorsal and anal fins, and a few similar 
spots on the lateral line : in one the spots approaching the fins just named 
are eight in number, in the other they are fewer and less conspicuous. In the 
three specimens all the fins except the ventral have, at irregular intervals, an 
occasional ray black ; the rays only exhibiting this colour. 
“ Mr. Jenyns has called attention to the difference of colour and number of rays 
in the fins of the specimen he examined (p. 468) compared with the individual 
described by Mr. Hanmer. In both respects it appears the species is subject to 
considerable variation. Dr. Parnell has more recently described (Mag. Zool. 
and Bot., vol. i. p. 527) what he considers to be a new species of sole, and 
names Monochiras minutus ; but a comparison of my specimens with his de- 
scription satisfies me of their identity. The specific character of M. minutus 
is, ‘ every sixth or seventh ray of the dorsal and anal fins black,’ which mark- 
ing appears in the individuals under consideration, though less regularly; their 
dorsal fins are connected with the caudal as in this fish, although the junction, 
as before mentioned, is only observable on close examination. Two of my three 
specimens at the same time display ‘ blackish spots, which extend beyond the 
base of the rays [of the D. and A. fins] towards the body of the fish,’ a cha- 
racter remarked by Dr. Parnell as distinguishing M. Lingula from his new 
species. My specimens generally possess in common the characters of M. Lin- 
gula and M. minutus. 
“ In Mr. Yarrell’s collection there is a dried specimen, 4| inches long, from the 
Mediterranean, identical with mine, and like them displaying conspicuously, at 
irregular intervals, the black markings on the dorsal and anal fins.* 
Addendum. 
“ Solea Lingula and Solea variegata. Belfast, June 18th, 1838. Among some 
small fishes taken by dredging within the entrance to Belfast Bay by my friend 
Dr. J. L. Drummond*, on the 16th instant, and considerately forwarded to me 
when quite recent, were five specimens of Solea , or Monochirus (Cuv.). Of 
these, which with one exception were examined before being transferred to 
spirits, four individuals, varying from to 4^ inches in length, are the Solea 
Lingula , Rond. ; and one, 2f inches long, the Pleuronectes variegatus of Dono- 
van. In our two latest and best works upon the subject — Yarrell’s British 
Fishes, and Jenyns’s Manual of British Vertebrate Animals — these names are 
brought together as synonymous, or representing but one species, with, however, 
an expression of doubt as to its correctness by the latter author. A compara- 
tive examination of the present examples satisfies me that they apply to two 
distinct species. 
“ In placing the individuals together, the most obvious differences appear in the 
dark blotches and transverse bands of S. variegata ( Pleur . variegatus, Don.) 
contrasted with the comparatively uniform tint of S. Lingula ; in the scales of 
S. variegata being very much smaller, f in its eyes being relatively to each other 
* Dublin, June, 1838. — A specimen of this sole 3| inches long, and taken at 
Youghal, three or four years ago, is in the collection of Dr. Ball. Its upper 
side does not exhibit any variegation of colours, but is of a uniform reddish- 
brown hue. The rays of the dorsal and anal fins are occasionally black, as in 
all individuals of this species I have seen. 
f Although I here speak only relatively to the size of the scales of S. Lingula , 
the remark may without explanation seem inconsistent with Donovan’s “ specific 
character ” of the variegated sole, in which the scales are stated to be “ large ;” 
