PLEURONECTIN.^ 



321 



As pointed out by Hubbs (iyi5), specimens from Amoy and other parts of southern 

 China tend to differ somewhat from typical Japanese examples. In view of the 

 great variation found among Japanese specimens, however, it seems inadvisable to 

 recognise more than one species at present. 



3. PLEURONICHTHYS VERTICALIS, Jordan and Gilbert. 



Plcuronichthys wrticalis, Jordan and Gilbert, 1881, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., iii, {1880), p. 49 ; Jordan 

 and Gilbert, i88j, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., iv, (1881), p. 69 ; Jordan and Gilbert, 1883, Bull. 

 U.S. Nat. .Mus., xvi, p. 829 ; Jordan, 1884, Nat. Hist, .\quat. Anim. (Fisheries Fish. Indust. 

 U.S., i), p. 189 ; Jordan and Goss, 1889, Rep. U.S. Com. Fish., xiv, (1886), p. ziz ; Jordan and 

 Evermann, 1898, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., xlvii (3), p. 2638 ; Starks and Morris, 1907, Univ. Calif. 

 Pub. Zool., iii (11), p. 243 ; Starks and Thompson, 19 10, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., xxxviii, p. 281 ; 

 Hubbs, 1916, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., xvi (13), p. 168 ; Starks, 1918, Calif. Fish Game, iv (4), 

 p. 10, fig. 91. 



Fig. 237. — Plcuronichthys verticalis 



Depth of body ij to twice in the length, length of head 3 J to 4^. Upper eye 

 scarcely behind lower, entering dorsal profile of head, its diameter 4 to 4J in length 

 of head ; interorbital ridge high, sharply compressed, with a prominent spine directed 

 upward and forward at its anterior end, and a strong, backvvardly-directed spine at 

 its posterior end ; a strong tubercle on the anterior edge of the ridge, in front of the 

 lower eye and overhanging the mouth ; generally a smaller prominence in front of 

 upper eye, another above it, and 2 or 3 behind, of which the lowest is most prominent ; 

 no distinct prominences above the operculum. Maxillary extending to below anterior 

 part of eye, length on ocular side 4 to 4J, on blind side 4 in that of head ; lower jaw 

 scarcely projecting, 3 to 3^ in head. Teeth in 3 or 4 rows on blind .side of both jaws ; 

 none on ocular side of either jaw. 6 or 7 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. 

 88 to 96 scales in lateral line. Posterior prolongation of supratemporal branch of 

 lateral Une extending to below thirty-seventh to forty-seventh rays of dorsal fin. 

 Dorsal 68-71 ; origin a little above level of angle of mouth, 5 or 6 rays being on blind 

 side of head. .-Xnal 45-48 ; tip of first interhjemal spine prominent. Pectoral of 

 ocular side with 10 to 12 rays (8 or g branched), length ij to ij in that of head. 

 Pelvics with 6 rays. Caudal with 19 rays (13 branched), rounded ; caudal peduncle 

 about twice as deep as long. Intestine of moderate length, not much coiled. Pale 



