FLOTJNDER. 
197 
advance, and near the corner of the mouth. Scales on the 
body scarcely perceptible, but sometimes rough on the lateral 
line; rough tubercles along the base of the dorsal and anal 
fins; lateral line a little curved at first, but becoming straight 
before the termination of the pectoral fin, a bony ridge passing 
from the eyes to join it behind the gill-covers; and several 
rough tubercles on the coloured side, just above the pectoral 
fin. The dorsal fin begins with short rays close behind the 
eyes, and both the dorsal and anal fins end with short rays 
opposite each other, not far from the tail, — both these fins 
much expanded near the middle of their length; pectoral wide, 
ventral at midway between the throat and beginning of the 
anal fin; tail rounded. The colour is subject to variety, 
according to the nature of the ground, from very dark to a 
lighter greenish, or brown, with mottled tints, and the fins 
with even white streaks separating the rays. 
It is said that this fish is more subject to variation of 
structure than others of this extensive family; the eyes being 
directed to the left instead of the right, or the lower and 
white side being of the same colour as the upper. Donovan’s 
plate represents the opposite of this, with a large portion of 
the upper side like the paler side below. It sometimes happens 
also that there is a deficiency in the continuance of outline 
