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Show 252 PISCES. the maxitlat·y, on the side on which the eyes are placed, is a small salient hook, and sometimes a second one is found over the lower eye. Species of this description are taken in the Mediterranean.( I) SoLEA, Cuv. The mouth twisted to the side opposite to the eyes, and on that sid~ only furnished with very minute and crowded teeth, the oppo· site one being edentatcd. The form is oblong; snout rounded, and generally projecting beyond the mouth; the dorsal commencing at the mouth, and extending, as well as the anal, to the caudal; lateral line straight; side of the head opposite to the eyes usually covered with a sort of villosity. The intestine is long and has several flex· ures, but no crecum. Pl. solea, L.; Bl., 45. (The Sole.) A well known and com· mon species; brown on the side in which the eyes are placed; pectorals spotted with black, &c.-an excellent fish. There are several other species, particularly in the Mediterra· nean.(2) In some foreign ·species there is no distinction between the three vertical fins.(3) MoNooHxRus, Cuv. One extremely small pectoral on the side with the eye, the oppo· site one almost imperceptible or totally wanting. Pleur. microchirus, Laroche, Ann. Mus. XIII, 356; Lingua· tula, Randel., 324. A Mediterranean species.( 4) (1) Pleur. podas, Laroche, Ann. du Mus, Xlll, xxiv, 14, or Pl. rhomboi'du, Rondel, 313, which is also the same as the Pl. argus and mancus of Risso, Ed.li Pleur.mancus, Brousson. Dec. lctht., pl. iii, iv;-Pl. argus, Ul., and lunatus, Gm., Bl. 48, or better Catesby, Carol., XXVII. (2) The Pole of Belon, 143, and ofHondel., 323, different from the one sold at Paris, which is a Platessa, according to these authors, has the eyes on the lefti I am not sure it is the Rlt. polus, Riss., Ed. II, f: 32, in which the eyes are on the right;-the Pl. ocellatus, Sch., 40, the same as the Pl. Rondeletii, Sh., Solea ocu· lata, or Pegouze, Hondel., 322;-P/. !ascaris, Risso, Ed. I, pl. vii, f. 32, and other foreign species to be described in our llist. des Poissons. (3) Pl. zebra, Bl., 187;-Bl. plagiusa, L.;-Pl. orientalis, Schn., 151i-PI. Commersonien, Lac., III, xii, 2, or Jerre potoo, A, Russel, 70; but the description Lacep., IV, 656, belongs to another species of the subgenus Rhombusi-tbe Horned-sole, Russ., 72, an incorrect figure;-Pl. je7Teus, Cuv., or Jerre potoo, 11, Russel, 71;-Pl. pan, Buch., XIV, 42. (4) It is probably the Pleur. maugilii, Risso, 310. Other species exist, some o.f which are unquestionably confounded with the Achiri of authors. The Pl. irt· clwdactylus, must also belong to this subgenus. Add the pegouze of Risso, SOB, Ed. II, f. 33 ;-Mon. theopltile, Icl. MALACOPTEltYGII SUBH.ACHIATI. 253 AcHiuus, Lacep. Soles totally deprived of pectorals. They may also be divided into AoHxRus properly 'so called,( 1) in which the vertical fins are distinct; and into PLAGUsiA, Brown,(2) in which they are united with the caudal. ' FAMILY III. ' r tl '· DISCOBOLI. These fishes, so called on account of the disk formed by their ventrals, form two genera. LEP ADOGASTER, Gouan. ~ The small fishes which compose this genu~» are remarkable for the .follo.wing characters. Their ample pectorals having re.ached the mfet'lOr surface of the trunk, assume stouter rays, curve slightly forwards, and unite with each other on the throat by a transverse membt·ane directed forwards, which is formed by the union of the ventrals. The body is smooth and without scales, the head b.road a~d depressed, the snout salient and protractile; the branchiro, but shghtl~ cleft, are furnished with four or five rays, and they have but a smgle soft dorsal opposite to a similar anal. The intestine is sh~rt, straight and without creca, and notwit~1standing they are depriVed of a natatory bladder, they may be seen swimming along the shores with great vivacity. In LEPADOGASTER, properly SO called, The membt·ane which represents the ventrals extends circularly under the pelvis and forms a concave disk; on the other side the bones of the shoulder project slightly behind, which completes a th (l) Pl. acltirus, L., .llcMre bm·bu, Geoff., Ann. du Mus., vol. I, pl. xi. It is not e same as that of L · b t . 1 . acep. It IS necessary to observe that its barbs are not rat•s Duch Cl 1a' such as at·e fio un d m· the common Sole, and on many of the Achiri;-t"h e' 'S~ loa· marbrt ' Lac ., III' xu· ·, 3' and. IV, P· 660;-tbe .llclt. fascl, lei., Pl. lineatus, ne, Jam., pl. 346; Pl. mollis Mitch 11 4 (2) Pl bi · ' ., ' . IV, . 6~3.~neatus, lll., 188, or Jerre potoo, E, Russel, 74;-the .llclt. orne, Lacep., fro:the Pl Pleu;. arel, Sch., 159, Pl. plaguaire, aff., Jam., Br. 445, different · plagttUa, L. ;-Pl. pototts, Cuv., or Jerrt potoo, D, UusseJ, 73. \ |
