HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 391 
to eighteen inches. The largest specimen of this species I have ever seen measured 
twenty-one inches in length, and seventeen in width. 
Massachusetts, Srorer. Connecticut, Liystry, Ayres. New York, Mrrcumnr, 
DEKAY. 
PLATESSA DENTATA, Storer. 
The Flounder of New York. 
(PLATE XXX. Fre 3.) 
Pleuronectes dentatus, Flounder of New York, Mrrcn., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 390. 
Platessa — 72 — of New York, Sronxn, Report, p. 143. 
Ze E Dexay, Report, p. 298. 
" " Red Mem, Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 476. 
da " x Synopsis, p. 207. 
Color. All the right side of the body and the fins of a uniform reddish-brown. 
Pupils black, irides golden. 
Description. Body elongated. The ZEN of the head to the whole length of 
the body, exclusive of the caudal fin, about as one to four. The eyes are situated 
upon the right side of the body, and placed over each other, — the upper slightly 
posterior, — separated by a bony ridge, covered with scales similar to those over 
the whole head. The longest diameter of the eye nearly equal to one sixth the 
length of the head. The mouth is very large, the perpendicular gape being nearly 
equal to two thirds the length of the head; the upper jaw projects slightly be- 
yond the lower; both jaws are furnished with a single row of prominent, sharp 
teeth, separated from each other, so that when the mouth is closed the teeth of 
one jaw shut into the space between those of the opposite jaw; the lower jaw has 
a blunt, bony tubercle at the chin. The lips are small. 
The lateral line is nearly straight, making only a scarcely perceptible curve over 
the pectoral fins. 
The dorsal fin commences just over the middle of the eye, and terminates at 
the base of the fleshy portion of the tail; the first rays are quite short, and grad- 
ually lengthen towards the middle of the fin, whence they again diminish posteriorly. 
The pectorals are subtriangular, and nearly half the length of the head. 
The third and fourth rays of the ventrals are the longest; the posterior ray 
is very minute. 
The anal fin commences on a line beneath the middle of the pectorals, and 
terminates opposite the dorsal fin. The edges of the dorsal and anal fins on the 
right side are fringed by the continuation of the whiteness of the left side 
upon them. 
