[101] FLOUNDERS AND SOLES. 325 
Charleston. The greater slenderness of the original type is perhaps 
due to distortion, and the smaller number than usual of the scales does 
not afford a marked distinction. 
On account of the fact that the West Indian species as arule is a 
little slenderer than the northern one and has a little larger scales, 
Dr. Jordan has elsewhere adopted for the former the Linnzan name, 
but, on the whole, it seems more probable that the original plagiusa was 
the northern fish. 
The name ornotus is also doubtful in its proper application. The only 
thing distinctive in the description of Lacépéde is that the typical speci- 
men was “given by Holland to France.” Many of the species in this 
Dutch collection seem to have come from Surinam, and this is probably 
no exception. But Lacépéde’s description might apply as well to any 
other species of Symphurus as to this. 
The name Plewronectes plagusia, given by Schneider to the species de- 
scribed by Brown, seems to admit of no doubt, as this is the only one of 
the group yet known from Jamaica. If, therefore, the name plagiusa 
be used for the northern species, or dropped altogether as not identi- 
fied, the present species will stand as Symphurus plagusia. 
We have compared numerous specimens from Rio Janeiro (represent- 
ing the nominal species tessellatus or brasiliensis) with others (plagusia 
=ornata) from Havana. There is certainly no permanent difference, 
The Brazilian specimens are a little more slender on an average, but 
there are numerous exceptions, and all variations in color are found in 
both. 
132. SYMPHURUS PLAGIUSA. 
(TONGUE-FISH. ) 
a. Var. plagiusa. 
Pleuronectes plagiusa Linnzus, Syst. Nat., ed. xii, 1766, 455 (on a specimen from Dr. 
Garden, probably from Charleston, but the locality not quite certain ; and of 
various copyists). 
Glossichthys plagiusa Gill, Cat. Fish. E. Coast N. Am., 1861, 51 (name only). 
- Plagusia plagiusa Gill, Cat. Fish. East Coast N. Am., 1872-3, 794 (name only). 
Aphoristia plagiusa Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1878, 363 (Beaufort). 
Jordan, op. cit., 1880, 22 (St. John’s River). Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit., 
1882, 305 (Pensacola) ; 1882, 618 (Charleston). Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis 
Fish. N. A., 1882, 842. Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 144 (Key West). 
Plagusia fasciata Holbrook, MSS. De Kay,New York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 304 (Charles- 
ton). 
Aphoristia fasciata Jordan, Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1886, 53. 
b. Var. pusillus. 
Aphoristia pusilla Goode & Bean, Proc. U.S. N. Mus., 1885, 590 (Gulf Stream ; lat. 40°). 
c. Var. diomedeanus. 
Aphoristia diomedeana Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1835, 589 (Gulf of Mexico; 24 fathoms). 
Habitat—South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. 
