PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 93 



In 18G2, Prof. Gill and Dr. A. Giinther identified tliis species with the 

 Pleuroncctes stcllatiis of Pallas. 



Total length, in inches. 



Length without caudal 



Greatest height of boily 



Height from tip of dorsal to tip of anal 



Distance from tip of lower jaw to origin of anal 



Length of head 



Longitudinal diameter of eye 



Width of interocular space 



Length of snout, from lower cyo 



Length of longest ray of dorsal 



Length of longest ray of anal 



Length of pectoral of colored side 



Length of pectoral of blind side 



Length of ventral 



Width of caudal peduncle whore narrowest 



Distance from end of dorsal to caudal fin 



Greatest distance from anal to straight portion of lateral line 

 Length of caiulal 



6}| 

 31^ 



'^o. 3. Ko. 4. Iso. 5. 



13J5 

 IH 



9 



IS 

 IS 

 i§ 

 IS 



n 



U 



3i 



The forranlffi of the fin-rays of dorsal and anal in these specimens were 

 as follows : No. 1, D. Gl, A. 42 ; No. 2, D. GO, A. 43 ; No. 3, D. 50, A. 42; 

 No. 4, D. 58, A. 43 ; No. 5, D. 50, A. 44. Nos. 1 and 2 are alcoholic spe- 

 cimens, and have both eyes and color npon the right side. 



This is the most abnndant of all the flat-fishes bronght to onr markets, 

 and attains a larger size than any other except the Bastard Halibut 

 {ParaUchthys maculosm) and the Hippoglossus. Those taken in San Fran- 

 cisco Bay attain a weight of eight, ten, or even twelve pounds, while 

 still larger individuals are brought from Humboldt Bay. Those brought 

 from the latter locality are, however, very coarse and comparatively poor 

 in flesh, so that they do not fetch by far so high a price as those taken 

 near San Francisco. It is sold under the name of " Flounder," which 

 here appears to be limited strictly to this species. Its broad rhombic 

 form, elevated dorsal, deep anal, long caudal peduncle, stellate scales, 

 and the bands of color which adorn the vertical fins, give this fish an 

 unmistakable /ac/es. The eyes and color are sometimes upon the right 

 and sometimes npon the left side. Out of sixty-five individuals, which 

 I counted as they lay upon the stall, thirty-two were colored upon the 

 right and thirty-three upon the left side. On another occasion I counted 

 seventy -five sinistral and fifty-eight dextral individuals, and on a third 

 thirty-eight dextral and forty-eight sinistral. Is it not possible that the 

 difference of color may be a sexual one ? This is the idea of the more 

 intelMgent dealers, but it has not been verified by dissection. Individuals 

 occasionally occur with both sides olivaceous, some white blotches alone 

 marking the usually uncolored side ; on tiie other hand, I have seen one 

 example which had both sides white, except along the dorsal and abdom- 

 inal outlines and head of the eyed side. 



