434 PLETTEONECTID^. 



caudal) ; the length of the maxillary nearly onc-foiu'th of that of the 

 head. The width of the iuterorbital space is one- half of the length 

 of the head*. The lower eye is much in advance of the upper. 

 Maxillary and orbital margin (sometimes) with a prominent knob. 

 The dorsal rays occupying the middle half of the fin are the longest, 

 two-fifths of the length of the head. The caudal fin is rather less 

 than one-fifth of the total. The upper rays of the pectoral (some- 

 times) elongate. Ohve, with bluish oceUi, and with brown rounded 

 spots, two or three of the largest along the lateral line. Vertical 

 fhis with brown spots. 



Atlantic coasts of tropical America. 

 a, b. Fine specimens. Bahia. From Dr. 0. Wucherer's Collection. 



5. Rhomhoidichthys ellipticus. 



Pleuronectes ellipticus, Poet/, Mem. Cub. ii. 1861, p. 315. 

 D. 104. A. 71. 

 The height of the body is two-fifths of the total length (Math the 

 caudal). The width of the iuterorbital space equals the vertical 

 diameter of the eye ; the eye occupies the second quarter of the 

 head ; the maxillary does not extend to below the middle of the 

 eye. Dorsal fin nearly as high anteriorly as posteriorly, its height 

 being one-sixth of that of the body. Male with prominent knobs on 

 the maxillary and orbital margin, and wdth the upper pectoral rays 

 exceedingly elongate. Yellowish-brown, with yellowish rings edged 

 with brown, and with round blue spots ; a whitish spot dotted with 

 black, and bordered with a |broad blackish band posteriorly, on the 

 second third of the body. Fins with some short brownish streaks. 



Cuba. 



6, Ehomboidichthys leopardinus. 

 D. 86. A. 67. L. lat. 80. 



The height of the body is contained once and three-quarters in 

 the total length (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and 

 three-quarters. Head considerably higher than long, with the 

 anterior profile concave above the snout. Snout shorter than the 

 eye, the diameter of which is one-fourth of the length of the head ; 

 cleft of the mouth narrow, the maxillaiy extending to below the 

 front margin of the orbit, and its length being one-fourth of that of 

 the head, Iuterorbital space concave, scaly, only its anterior portion 

 and the snout being naked ; the width between the eyes equals their 

 longitudinal diameter. -The posterior half of the lower eye faUs 

 vertically below the upper. Teeth veiy small, in two series in the 

 upper jaw. (Maxillary and orbits without prominent knobs.) An- 

 terior dorsal rays considerably shorter than those on and behind 



Width of inter- 

 * Total length. Length of the head. orbital space, 

 lines. lihes. lines. 



.55 12 6 



