PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 617 



Head S^-Sf iu length; depth If. D. 70 to 76 ; A. 57 to 59. Pores in 

 lateral line, 83 to 90 ; vertical series of scales, 70. Gill-rakers very short, 

 L* + 6. Fourth or fifth dorsal ray longest, nearly two-thirds length og 

 head. Caudal 1^ iu head ; ventral of colored side, 1§. 



115. Paralichtliys ocellaris (DeKay) J. & G. — Flounder. 



Platessa ocellaris De Kay, N. V. Fauua, Fish, 1842, 300, pi. 47, fig. 152. 

 Platessa ohlonga Storcr, Hist. Fisli. Mass. 1867, 395, j)!. 31, fig. 2. 

 ParalicMhijs opliryas Jor. & Gilb. Syu. Fisli. N. A. 822. 



Abundant in the harbor, but much less so than the following species. 

 It does not reach as large a size as dentatus, and is much less valuable 

 as a food-fish. The largest specimen obtained is about 1 foot long. 

 This species has by recent writers been confounded with dcnfatns, along 

 with which it occurs on both northern and southern portions of our East 

 coast. From dentatus it is readily distinguishable by the ocellated spots, 

 the narrow, interorbital, and especially by the slender, more numerous 

 gill-rakers. 



Color iu life: Light olive-brown; adults with very numerous small 

 white spots on body and vertical fins; sometimes a series of larger 

 white spots along bases of dorsal and anal fins; about 14 ocellated dark 

 spots on sides, these sometimes little conspicuous, but always present ; 

 a series of 4 or 5 along base of dorsal, and 3 or 4 along base of anal, 

 those of the two series opposite, and forming pairs ; two pairs of smaller 

 less distincts spots midway between these basal series and lateral line 

 anteriorily, with a small one on lateral line in the center between them ; 

 a large distinct spot on lateral line behind middle of straight portion ; 

 fins without the round dark blotches cbaracteristic of dentatus. 



Head 3* to 4 in length; depth 2f ; eye C in head; maxillary 2; 

 pectoral 24-; ventral 3J ; caudal peduncle 4; caudal l^. D. SO to 91. 

 A. 65 to 71. Lat. 1. 108 (tubes). Curve of lateral line 3§ to 4^- in straight 

 portion. 



Gill-rakers comparatively long and slender, 5 -f 15 to 6 -f 18 in number. 

 Length 12 inches. 



Teeth as in dentatus, very long, in a single series, those in lower jaw 

 larger. 



Scales smooth ; the posterior margin of each scale of colored side be- 

 set with a row of minute accessory scales. 



116. Paraliclithys dentatus (Linn. ) J. & G. — Flomuler. 



The only flounder of much value for food found at Charleston. It is 

 much more numerous than other species, and reaches a larger size. 

 Specimens were seen 2^ feet long. 



This species is readily distinguished by the nearly uniform dark olive- 

 brown coloration, without a trace of ocellated spots; the fins are plain, 

 with characteristic round, dusky blotches ; the interorbital space is, iu 

 adults, wide and flat; the gill-rakers are comparatively short and strong, 

 very constantly 2 + 9 in number, rarely 3 + 10. 



