4 
75 Part [11.—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
Genus Solea. 
Solea vulgaris, Quensel. The Black Sole. Pl. i. B., fig. 34; pl. iv., 
fig. 17. 
A single pair of “earstones are represented among the photographs 
given here. They are from a fish of scarcely average size, its entire 
length being only 124 inches, but they represent the characteristic form 
and size of the earstones of Solea vulgaris. The earstones of this 
specimen were 5mm. across the longer diameter, by fully 4mm. in width, 
so that they are equal to about one sixty-third part of the entire length 
of the fish. A smaller specimen, whose earstones are not represented on 
the plate, measured about 240mm., and its otoliths about 35mm. by 3mm. 
fully. The earstones of this specimen were therefore only about the one 
sixty-ninth part of the length of the fish. 
These earstones have an obscurely quadrilateral outline, a side and an 
end being nearly at right angles with each other. The remaining side 
aud end are slightly arched, as shown in the figure. The earstones 
of the smaller fish just mentioned have also an outline similar to 
that described. 
Solea varieyata, Don. The variegated Sole or Thickback. PI. i.B., figs. 
35 and 36; pl. iv., figs. 28 and 29. 
The earstones of two specimens of this species of sole, nearly of the 
same size, are shown on pl. i. B., and by figures considerably enlarged on 
pl. iv. The specimens measured respectively 140mm. and 137mm. in 
length. Their earstones are flat, almost circular, disks measuring about 
3mm. across the longer, by nearly 2‘5mm. across: the shorter diameter. 
The size of these earstones in proportion to the length of the fish is there- 
fore greater than that of the black soles mentioned above. 
Solea lutea, Risso. The Solenette. Pl. i. B., fig. 37-41; pl. iv., figs. 24 
and 25. 
A number of solenettes have been examined for their earstones, and a 
few of them are represented among the photographs. These earstones 
are very sinall and have little to characterise them except that they are 
flat, and nearly circular in outline. The size of the different fishes and of 
their earstones are given in the annexed Table. 
Earstones. 
Migueee a Length of the Fish. 
Length. . Width. 
ee #9 eke \ 117mm. 30mm. 2:2mm. 
wok Phe \ 98mm. 2‘Omm. 1‘5mm. 
39 (pl. i. B.) 90mm. About 2‘0mm. 1‘5mm. 
= ae 76mm. 1‘7mm. 1:5mm. 
41 9 64mm. 1‘5mm. 1°‘5mm. 
m” iii Ng ae nl? Oe 
