Jordan and Evcrmann. — Fishes of North Afucrica. 2693 



They are numerous iu the warm seas, and those of sufficient size are valued 

 as food. Genera ahout 12; species 150. The North American species 

 belong to 2 subfamilies very different one from the other. The soles are 

 naturally divisible into 3 sublamilies, each (juite distinct from the others, 

 and possibly indeiiendcntly descended or degraded from normal FJeitron- 

 ectidtr. The Achii-ina', or American soles, are apparently allied to the PsH- 

 tiitw, and as in the latter, the ventral hn of the eyed side extends along the 

 ridge of the abdomen. The Solcina', or European soles, show in the inser- 

 tion of ventral and in other respects a strong resemblance to the Pleuro- 

 nectina'. The more aberrant Cynoglossina; or tongue tishes, are perhaps 

 degraded Soleina', but the eyes are sinistral, as iu the Psettince. In the 

 Soleiuw and AcMrin(v the eyes are dextral, as in the PUuronecUnce. 



ACHIRIN^ : 



I. Soles with the eyes on the riglit side anil separated by a distinct bony ridge; tae ven- 



tral with long base confluent with the anal. Body oblong or ovate, with the color 

 on the right side ; eyes moderate or small, the upper eye usually more or less in 

 advance of the lower; mouth small, more or less twisted toward the blind side; 

 teeth little developed, in villil'orm bands; edge of opercle aduate, usually con- 

 cealed by the scales ; gill openings more or less narrowed, the gill membranes 

 adnato to the shoulder girdle above : blind side of head usually with fringes ; pec- 

 toral tins small, sometimes wanting; ventral fins developed, one or both of them 

 sometimes obsolete; scales usually ctenoid, rarely \vanting; lateral line straight, 

 usually single; right ventral with extcndea base, confluent with the anal fin. 

 a. Gill openings of moderate extent, confluent below; vertical fins well separated; 

 body ovate in outline, the depth nearly h the length; pectoral fins rudi- 

 mentary or wanting; lateral line straight; scales well developed, ctenoid, 

 » those on the head more or less enlarged, those of the blind side of the head 

 with fringes ; vertebras about 28. Achirus, 1054. 



aa. Gill openings very small, separate, each reduced to a small slit below angle of 

 opercle ; right ventral beginning at the chin ; pectoral fins minute or want- 

 ing ; lateral line straight; snout dilated, the dorsal beginning upon it. 

 h. Scales present, ctenoid; caudal somewhat confluent with dorsal. 



c. Left ventral rudimentary, with 2 rays. Apionichthys, 1055. 



66. Scales none; caudal free from dorsal and anal. Gymnachirus, 1056. 



OYNOGLOSSIN.li : 



II. Soles with the eyes on the left side, not separated by a bony ridge. Body elongate, 



more or less lanceolate in outline, with the color on the left side; eyes small, 

 very close together, witli no distinct interorbital ridge between them; mouth 

 small, twisted toward tha blind side; teeth little developed, in villiform bands; 

 gill openings narrow, the gill membranes adnate to the shoulder girdle above, 

 joined together and free from the isthmus below; pectoral fins wanting (in the 

 adult); ventral fins small, that of the blind side often wanting; vertical fins 

 more or less confluent; scales ctenoid j lateral lines sometimes wanting, some- 

 times duplicated. 

 d. Ventral fin of eyed side only present, free from the anal ; no pectoral fins ; no 

 lateral line; head without fringes. Symphurus, 1057. 



1054. ACHIRUS, Lacepede. 



(American Soles.) 



Achirus, Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 659, 1803 {fasciatus, etc.). 

 Achirus, Cuvier, Kegne Animal, Ed. 2, n, 343, 1829 (restriction to fasciatus, etc.). 

 Trinectes, IIafinesque, Atlantic -Journal and Friend of Knowledge, i, 1832 {scahra). 

 Grammichthijs, Kacp, Arcliiv fur Naturgsch. 1858, 94 (lineatus; fasciatus) ; Achirus being 

 restricted to Pardachirus barbatus, etc' 



