142 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



A specimen (28267) from Mazatlau, lOi inches in length, differs in 

 the follovriug particulars : spines behind pectorals somewhat shorter, 

 and all the spines more keeled; more spines on interorbital space; 

 color darker above and the spots larger, scarcely more numerous than 

 the spines. 



One large specimen. 



27.— PLATOPHRYS MANCUS (Broussonet) Smith & Swain. 



Fleuronectes mancus Brouss. Ichth. description on figure, 1782 (Pacific). (Not Bhomho- 

 idichtliys mancus Gthr.) 



Habitat. — Pacific Ocean. 



Head 3f (4|) ; depth 2 (2i) ; length (26838) 16 inches. D. 98; A. 78 ; 

 scales about 95 ; Br. 6. 



Body elliptical, the profile continuous with the dorsal curve, the snout 

 l^rojecting and the nasal bones forming a prominent knob; ventral out- 

 line a regular and gentle curve from gill-opening to caudal peduncle ; 

 lower jaw produced beyond upper, a pointed knob below and behind 

 symphysis. 



Head not much higher than long ; mouth moderately oblique, small 

 for a large mouthed species, the maxillary reaching little beyond an- 

 terior rim of eye, 2f in head. Pointed teeth in two series in each jaw, 

 those of the inner and larger series becoming somewhat smaller i)os- 

 teriorly, the teeth on maxillary not extending as far back on the blind 

 side; the outer series of few small teeth. Eyes small, the lower orbit 

 7 in head, the upper one slightly smaller; the lower orbit wholly in 

 advance of the upper; the concave iuterorbital space 2f in head; the 

 orbital rim a sharp ridge without distinct knobs. 



Xostrils apparently wanting. Cheeks and opercles more or less scaly. 

 Gill-rakers rather long, the length of longest 2 in upper orbit; 10 on 

 lower part of arch, none above. 



Scales cycloid, not deciduous, similar on both sides, but without ac- 

 cessory scales on the blind side. 



Dorsal fin beginning on the snout, the first ray on the blind side, 

 about as long as superior orbit, the rays gradually increasing in height 

 to the posterior third of the fin, where they are 2f in head ; thence rap- 

 idly decreasing to end of fin. Anal similar, its highest rays not opposite 

 the highest part of dorsal, but a little farther back. Pectoral of eyed 

 side falcate, the second ray one-fourth longer than head, produced into 

 a filament ; pectoral of blind side If in head. Ventrals moderate, when 

 depressed reaching past front of anal. Caudal bluntly pointed, If in 

 head. 



Coloration in spirits: everywhere mottled with gray and brown ; the 

 fins (except pectoral on blind side) marked with same colors, but the 

 spots more nearly round and less complicated. On the colored side 

 there is a large, irregular blackish blotch behind pectoral, a round black 

 spot on the lateral line half way between head and caudal fin. About 



