278 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [54] 
The species is very readily distinguished from WH. crossotus by its 
elongate form, acute head, and by the larger numbers of its fin-rays 
and scales. 
61. ETROPUS MICROSTOMUS. 
Citharichthys microstomus Gill, Proce. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, 223. (Beesley’s Point, 
N Jersey.) 
Etropus rimosus Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 593. (Coast of Florida, 
between Pensacola and Cedar Keys, dredged at the depth of 21 fathoms. ) 
Etropus crossotus Jordan & Evermann, Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1886. (Pensacola. ) 
Habitat.—Gulf of Mexico. 
On re-examining our specimens of Htropus, we find that those ob- 
tained by Jordan & Evermann from Pensacola differ from the others 
in the greater elongation of the body and in the somewhat grayer color- 
ation. These correspond fairly to the description of Htropus rimosus. 
All other specimens from the United States coast collected by Dr. Jor- 
dan and his associates, are, in our opinion, referable to Htropus cros- 
sotus. 
The original description of Citharichthys microstomus Gill, fits this 
species better than any other known. ‘The fish in question is much too 
elongate for Htropus crossotus (depth 23 in total length), and the 
mouth is too small for any of the known species of Citharichthys (max- 
illary 4 in head; mandible 24). 
In the Museum of Comparative Zoology are numerous young speci- 
mens collected at Somers Point, New Jersey, by Dr. Stimpson. These 
seem to belong to the genus Htropus. The teeth are equal; the scales 
are 44, and the depth of the body is 24 in its length. The eye is 4 in 
head, the dorsal rays 75 to 80, and the ‘anal rays 56 or 57. The color 
is light brown, mottled and spotted with darker. 
These certainly represent the Citharichthys microstomus of Gill, col- 
lected in the same neighborhood by the same naturalist. We are un- 
able to distinguish them from Htropus rimosus. 
62. ETROPUS CROSSOTUS. 
Etropus crossotus Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. 8, Nat. Mus., 1881, 364 (Mazatlan). Jor- 
dan & Gilbert, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 305 (Lake Pontchartrain; Mazat- 
lan; Panama; Galveston). Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 
618 (Charleston). Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., 1882, 108-111 
(Mazatlan; Panama). Jordan & Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. A., 1882,839. Bean, 
Cat. Fish. Intern. Exh., 1883, 44 (St. John’s River). Jordan & Swain, Proc. 
U.S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 234 (Cedar Keys). 
Etropus microstomus ee Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., ee 29. (Beaufort, N.C.) (Not 
Citharichthys microstomus Gill.) 
Habitat.—Both coasts of tropical America, north to North Carolina. 
This little fish seems to be abundant in all warm and sandy shores of 
tropical America. It is the smallest and feeblest of all our flounders, 
and has therefore been generally overlooked by collectors. Its range 
will doubtless prove to be coextensive with that of its near ally, Ci- 
tharichthys spilopterus. 
