206 
LEMON SOLE. 
forehead is round and projects much over the mouth, conse- 
quently the under jaw is overlapped by the upper; mouth 
arched. Eyes separate, the upper distant from the border and 
advanced, the lower near the mouth. Scales cover the head 
and body, and also the lower surface, a row on each of 
the fin rays. Lateral line straight. The dorsal fin begins in 
front of the upper eye, and ends close to the root of the 
tail, being joined to it by a slight membrane, as is the anal; 
ventrals close to the throat; pectorals moderate. The colour 
of the fish yellow, studded over with spots, the pectoral fin 
having a black patch at the end. On the under side the 
nostril is broadly open. The number of the fin rays is — of 
the dorsal ninety, anal seventy-one, caudal eighteen, pectoral 
eight, ventral five. The difference of numbers in the dorsal 
and anal here given from those assigned to this fish by 
Mr. Yarrell, may be explained by the fact, (common to the 
flatfishes, as well as to all fishes which have numerous rays in 
those fins,) that, in addition to an intermediate bone attached 
to each neural spine of the vertebree, and each one bearing a 
fin ray, several of them will have a couple of these intermediate 
bones, with each a fin ray; and as the number and distribution 
of these additional bones are not influenced by a regular law, 
the number of fin rays attached to them must vary accordingly. 
By way of comparison with the Variegated Sole, when laid 
side by side with it, the scales appear much alike, but different 
from those of the Common Sole; while the more precise 
differences between the former fishes are — that in the Lemon 
Sole the eyes are smaller, the upper much more in advance, 
the mouth differently formed, the dorsal fin over the head 
more expanded, pectoral fin larger, ventrals nearer the cleft of 
the gills, dorsal and anal fins nearer the tail, and united to it 
by membrane. The colour and mottlings are very different. 
