PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 71 



oue rare species) are appended ; those taken from the x^reserved specimens 

 and from the fresh individuals in my possession being sux)ijlemented by 

 others tali:en from individuals as they lay on the stalls. The measureiuents 

 are followed by remarks upon the variation of individuals, by the enum- 

 eration of two or three obvious distinguishing characters, and by such 

 notes upon the localities, comparative abundance, &c., of the various 

 forms as I have been able to collect. I greatly regret my inabiUty to do 

 much at present toward the elucidation of the habits, food, and distribu- 

 tion of the several species. The classification adopted is, with one or 

 , two exceptions, that which will be followed by Professors Jordan and 

 Gilbert in their forthcoming work ;* and I take this occasion to thank 

 them for the valuable aid they have rendered me by sending me a copy 

 of that portion of their manuscript, and on various occasions tendering 

 me valuable information. 



To conclude, I have taken every care to guard against error, but I am 

 aware that it is possible that some of my conclusions may be open to 

 criticism. 



I have avoided biudening my descriptions with full synonymy and 

 references, contenting myself with the already given enumeration of the 

 works in which earlier descriptions will be found, and with the mention 

 of the original name of each species. 



SYXOPSIS OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES. 



* Month large, tlie broad flat maxillary extending to below the eye ; teeth nearly 

 eqnal on both sides of the jaws. 

 a. Ventral tins both lateral, neither of them on the ridge of the abdomen. 



(HIPFOGLOSSIX^.) 

 b. Body dextral, eyes and color on the right side. 

 c. Lateral Line with a semicircular arch in front; dentition strong; lower pha- 

 ryngeal teeth in two rows Hippovtilossus. 



1 vulgaris f 



cc. Lateral line nearly straight ; teeth rather small ; scales moderate, ciliated. 

 X. No accessory lateral line ; dorsal commencing over eye. 



HiPPOGLOSSOIDES. 



2. Eyes large ; lower jaw scarcely projecting jordani. 



XX. An accessory lateral Hue ; dorsal commencing before the eye. 



PSETTICHTHYS. 



3. Anterior rays of dorsal produced ; eyes small melanosficfuH. 



bh. Body sometim(is sinistral, sometimes dextral; dentition strong ; lateral line with 



a semicircular arch in front Paralichthys. 



4. Accessory scales numerous; scales ciliate maculosiis. 



aa. Ventral fin of the colored side iiisc^rted on the ridge of the abdomep; body 



■ sinistral (lUfOMBIX^J. ) 



Lateral line nearlj^ straight ; no vomerine teeth ; dorsal rays all sim- 

 ple « CiTHARICHTHYS. 



5. Scales almost membranous; interocular spa.ce concave sordidus. 



** Mouth small, the short narrow maxillary rarely reaching before the front of the 



eye; teeth mostly on the blind side ; body dextral. 



(PLE URONECTINJi. ) 



*A Synopsis of tlu* Fishes of the United States. =I5ulIetiii XVI of the United • 

 States National Museum. 



