PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 71 



one rare species) are appended ; those taken from tlie preserved specimens 

 and from the fresh individuals in my possession being supplemented by 

 others taken from indi\dduals as they lay on the stalls. The measurements 

 are followed by remarks upon the variation of individuals, by the enum- 

 eration of two or three obvious distinguishing characters, and by such 

 notes upon the localities, comparative abundance, &c., of the various 

 forms as I have been able to collect. I greatly regret my inability to do 

 much at present toward the elucidation of the habits, food, and distribu- 

 tion of the several species. The classification adopted is, with one or 

 two exceptions, that which will be followed by Professors Jordan and 

 Gilbert in their forthcoming work ;* and I take this occasion to thank 

 them for the valuable aid they have rendered me by sending me a copy 

 of that portion of their manuscript, and on various occasions tendering 

 me valuable information. 



To conclude, I have taken every care to guard against error, but I am 

 aware that it is i^ossible that some of my conclusions may be open to 

 criticism. 



I have avoided burdening my descriptions with full synonymy and 

 references, contenting myself with the already given enumeration of the 

 works in which earlier descriptions will be found, and with the mention 

 of the original name of each species. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES. 



* Moutli large, the broad flat maxillary extending to below tbe eye; teeth nearly 

 equal on both sides of the jaws. 

 a. Ventral fins both lateral, neither of them on the ridge of the abdomen. 



(HIPPOGLOSSINJS.) 

 h. Body dextral, eyes and color on the right side, 

 c. Lateral hne with a semicircular arch in front ; dentition strong ; lower pha- 

 ryngeal teeth in two rows HippovtLOSSUS. 



1 vulgaris f 



cc. Lateral line nearly straight ; teeth rather small ; scales moderate, ciliated. 

 X. No accessory lateral line ; dorsal commencing over eye. 



(, HiPPOGLOSSOIDES. 



2. Eyes large ; lower jaw scarcely projecting .jordani. 



XX. An accessory lateral line ; dorsal commencing before the eye. 



^ PSETTICHTHYS. 



3. Anterior rays of dorsal produced ; eyes small melanostictus. 



1)h. Body sometimes sinistral, sometimes dextral; dentition strong ; lateral line with 



a semicircular arch in front Paralichth YS. 



4. Accessory scales numerous ; scales ciliate maculosus. 



aa. Ventral fin of the colored side inserted on the ridge of the abdomen; body 



sinistral (llHOMBmM.) 



Lateral line nearly straight; no vomerine teeth; dorsal rays all sim- 

 ple CiTHARICHTIIYS. 



5. Scales almost membranous ; interocular space concave sordhlus. 



** Mouth small, the short narrow maxillary rarely reaching before the front of the 



eye ; teeth mostly on the blind side ; body dextral. 



(PLEUrxONECTINJi.) 



*A Synopsis of the Fishes of the United States. = Bulletin XVI of the United 

 States National Museum. 



