PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 143 



BATRACHIDiE. 



155. Batrachus tau (LJ. Toadfish. 



Coloration varying very much with the depth and the character of 

 the bottom, the ground color ranging from light gray to brown. jSTo 

 specimens having the coloration of B. pardus were noticed. It is ab- 

 horred by the fishermen, who consider it very poisonous. 



PLEURONECTIDiE. 



156. Platophrys nebularis Jor. & Gilb. 

 Common in shallow water, in sand. 



157. Citharichthys ocellatus (Poey). 



A single young specimen taken in a seine with the preceding. The 

 resemblance in color of the two is very great. 



158. [Delothyris specres?] 



Two small flounders, 1^ inches in length, were obtained. These have 

 exactly the technical characters assigned by Mr. Goode to the genus 

 Delothyris. It is evident, however, that they are larvae, and they prob- 

 ably belong to some species of Platoplirys or Citharichthys. 



Eyes on the left side; mouth small, without evident teeth; no trace 

 of scales or of lateral line; pectorals on both sides present; ventrals of 

 both sides free from anal ; anal rays about 63 ; form ovate. 



Coloration jierfectly transparent, jelly-like, with slight greenish shades ; 

 five oblique bars running up and backward under dorsal and anal fins, 

 on which they extend ; these orange-red in color, and equally distinct 

 on both sides of body. 



Specimens of Platophrys nebularis as small as these are in the collec- 

 tion. These have the mottled color of the adult. It is probable, there- 

 fore, that this Delothyris is the larva of some species other than that. 



The original Delothyris pellucidus, as its describer has suggested, is 

 probably a larva, but its adult form is still probably unknown. 



159. Achinis comifer Jor. & Gilb. 



Eather scarce ; in the sand on shallow bottoms. 



160. Achirus inscriptus Gosse. 



{Monochir reticulatus Poey.) 



Common in shallow water on sand}' bottom ; several specimens taken. 



Color in life olivaceous, covered with an irregular net work of blackish 

 lines, these closer together on the head ; some specimens crossed by a 

 few vertical streaks, others without traces of these; dorsal and anal 

 colored like the body, rather darker, with a paler edge; caudal abruptly 

 whitish, immaculate; blind side immaculate, darker on the fins; hair- 

 like appendages whitish. 



Scales about head enlarged and fringed, especially on eyed side; lip 

 of eyed side much fringed; interorbital width less than eye; upper 



