177 
MEGRIM. 
SCALDFISH. 
Arnoglossus Bondeletii, 
Fleuronecies arnoglossus, 
“ arnoglossus, 
Bhomhus arnoglossus, 
Arnoglossus latema. 
Willoughby; p. 102, Table ]?. 8, f. 7; 
copied from B.ondeletius. 
Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 197. 
Jenyss; Manual, p. 465. 
Yareell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 345. 
Gunther; Oat. Br. M,, vol. iv, p. 417. 
This little fish is with us one of the least regarded of the 
famil y of Flatfishes, chiefly on account of its small size, which, 
when of full growth, seldom reaches six or seven inches, but 
more frequently it is found of four or five inches in length. 
It keeps in the deeper Yvater on sandy ground, and I have not 
known it take a bait, which may happen however because at 
the depth of water it frequents the hooks are larger than suit 
its mouth; but it is often swept up with the trawl, and some- 
times it is found in the stomachs of the larger fishes, among 
which the Conger is a principal devourer. 
But the most remarkable portion of the history of this fish 
is that from which it has obtained the name of Scaldfish, and 
in which it differs from all the flatfishes with which we are 
acquainted. Even when caught with the least amount of injury 
it is found to have lost the greater portion of its scales, and 
it only requires a slightly rougher handling for it to suffer the 
loss of its skin also, so that the surface usually appears as if 
the fish had been dipped in boiling water. It may be on this 
account, and from the small quantity of flesh that covers its 
bones, that with us it is not employed as food; but liondeletiui 
speaks of it as a delicacy for the table. 
The example selected for description measured four inches 
VOL lil. ^ A 
