834 COXTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY — IV. 



moderately arched anteriorly, with an accessory dorsal branch, which is 

 less than half length of head. Height of arch less than one-third its 

 length. Dorsal beginning over the eye, its anterior rays low; caudal con- 

 vex; anal preceded by a spine; a concealed spine behind ventrals; rays 

 of dorsal and anal all simple; dorsal and anal somewhat scaly; caudal 

 three-fifths length of head ; pectoral half head. Lower pharyngeals 

 broad, each with two rows of blunt teeth. Head 3f ; depth 2 J. D. 80; 



A. 60; teeth l^^ji^o' ^'^^- ^' ^^" ^- -^^ inches. San Francisco to Alaska; 

 abundant northward. A food-fish of some importance. 



(Platessa Mlineata Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1855, 40 : Pleuronectes MUneatua 

 Giinther, iv, 444: Lepidopsetta Mlineata Lockington, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas. 1879, 103: 

 Platiclilhtjs umbrosus Girarcl, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1856, 1.33: Pleuronectes um- 

 brosus Giinther, iv, 4-54: Pleuronectes perareuatus Cojie, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 1873.) 



aa. Lateral line without accessory branch. 



e. Lateralliue strongly arched in front ; scales ctenoid. {Limanda* Gottsche.) 



12S3. P. feaTaagiBBeais (Storer) J. & G.—Sand Dab. 



Brownish olive, with numerous, irregular, reddish spots; fins simi- 

 larly marked; left side with caudal fin, caudal peduncle, and margins 

 of dorsal and anal fins lemon yellow. Body ovate-elliptical, strongly 

 compressed; teeth small, conical, close-set, in a single series on each 

 side in each jaw. Snout projecting, forming a strong angle above 

 upper eye, with the descending profile. Gill-rakers of moderate length, 

 very weak, not toothed. Eyes moderate, 4J in head, the lower slightly 

 in advance of upper, separated by a high, very narrow ridge, which is 

 scaled posteriorly, and is continued backward as an inconspicuous but 

 rough ridge to the beginning of the lateral line. Scales imbricate, 

 nearly uniform, those on right side rough-ctenoid, those on left side 

 nearly or quite smooth; scales on body rougher than on cheeks. Cau- 

 dal peduncle short, higher than long. Dorsal inserted over middle of 

 eye, its middle rays highest; pectoral less than two-fifths length of 

 head ; caudal fin rounded ; anal spine present. Lateral line simple, 

 with a rather low arch in front, the depth of which is barely two-fifths 

 the length. A concealed spine behind ventrals ; ventral of colored side 

 partly lateral, the other wholly so; anal spine strong. Head 4 in 

 length; depth ^i D. 85; A. 02; Lat. 1. 100. Atlantic coast, chiefly 

 northward. 



( Platessa ferruginea Storer, Report Fish. Mass. 1839, 141: Platessa rostrata H. R, 

 Storer, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist, vi, 268: Myzopseita ferruginea Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci. Phila. 1864, 217.) 



* Gottsche, Wieginann's Archiv. 1835, 100: type Pleuronectes limanda Ij.^= Limanda 

 vulgaris Gottsche. (Limanda, an ancient name of L. vulgaris; perhaps from Xi/uj^v, 

 a small bay or creek.) 



