106 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



wliicli inclined forwards (about 25 in Xo. 4 and about 30 in Xo. 5) were 

 without scales. In Xos. 4-5, tbe length of the arch of the lateral line 

 was two inches, its rise half an inch, and the number of pores between 

 caudal and head 82 and 8G respectively. 



Lepidopsetta uiMBEosA (Grd.) Gill. 



Platichthrjs umhrosus Girard. 



D. 85-90. A. G0-G8. C. 3-12-3. P. 11-12. V. G. L. lat. 82-8G. 



Body ellipsoid, regularly and about equally curved on dorsal and ab- 

 dominal profiles ; snout strongly curved, its curve meeting that of the 

 dci\sal outhue at a considerable angle opposite the front margin of the 

 upi)er orbit ; lower margin of head and that of mandible almost in the same 

 line. Greatest depth of body contained 24-22 times, that of head 4-J-4f , 

 in the total length ; eye about G times, snout (measured from a line join- 

 ing the anterior marguis of the orbits) about 5i times, in the length of the 

 head; caudal peduncle 4 J times in the greatest depth of the body. Nos- 

 trils of colored side in a horizontal line with the centre of the interocular 

 space, anterior tubular, posterior jiatulous; anterior nostril of blind 

 side with a posterior linguiform Hap. Eyes small, lateral, even in front, 

 the upper anterior x^art of the orbit of the upper eye nearlj^ reaching 

 the dorsal outline at the point of its junction with the snout. Inter- 

 ocular space equal in widtli to about jV the longitudinal diameter of the 

 eye; the surface Hat, not ele%'ated, without ridges or tubercles. IMouth 

 small, its cleft obli<pie ; lower jaw projecting in the closed mouth, and 

 level with the upper margin of the lower eje; maxillary ending about 

 half-way between the front margin of the orbit and that of the pupil. 

 Teeth in a single row on both sides of both jaws; about 14 on the 

 colored and 23 on the blind side of the mandible, and 20 on the colored 

 and 23 on the blind side of the intermaxillaries in a specimen a little 

 over 9" long. Teeth conical, rather short and stout ; the largest in front 

 of both jaws, the smallest on the colored side of the intermaxillary. 

 Upper pharyngeal teeth in a single row of G-8 teeth similar to those in 

 jaws; lower pharyngeals separate, each Avith a double row of similar 

 teeth. Gill-rakers short, flexible ; branchiostegals seven. Dorsal com- 

 mencing above anterior margin of eye ; the first ray slightly turned 

 to the left at its origin; the longest rays (about the 38th-4Sth) about 

 equal in length to the pectoral of the right side, thence decreasing 

 regularly to its termination, opposite to that of anal, at a distance 

 from the caudal equal to about half the depth of the i)eduucle. Anal 

 with a more or less conspicuous spine, very slowly increasing in height 

 to the 30th-3Sth rays, which are equal in length and opposite to the 

 longest dorsal rays. By far the larger portion of the rays of the dorsal 

 and anal are directed backwards. Origin of anal considerably behind 

 the pectoral base. Greatest depth between anal and straight portion of 

 lateral line somewhat less than the length of the head. Caudal pedun- 

 cle slightly wedge-shaped; caudal convex posteriorly, the central rays 

 considerably longest ; outer ray about ^, secoud ray about f , the length 



