388 FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



fish are usually found lying on the surface of the sand or mud, "on the side of a "bed" which 

 they make as a shallow basin on the bottom. Sometimes they are buried, but their position 

 can be detected from the smooth area on the bottom witli the outline of the flounder; the 

 exposed eyes and head will then be seen. When the tide is falling, they are keeping off shore 

 in deeper water, and are therefore less easy to find; but on the "young flood" they follow the 

 water up on the shore, and are then most easy to see. On moonlight nights (stUl according to 

 his account), flounders are very difficult to get, as they run away from the boat. By the same 

 method, less the light, flounders are sometimes taken by day. Flounders taken in summer are 

 chiefly retailed on the streets or in the markets. Most of the flounders shipped are taken in 

 seines in fall. 



333. PARALICHTHYS LETH03TIGMU3 Jordan & Gilbert. 

 "Flounder"; Southern Flounder. 



Paralichthys lelhostinmus Jordan & Gilbert, Proceedings U. S. National Musaum, 1884, 237; Jacksonville, Fla. 



Jordan, 1888, 29; Beaufort. Smith, 1893o, 196, 200; Edenton Bay, Roanoke River. Jordan & Ever- 



mann, 1898, 2630. 

 Pseudorhombus dentatus, Jordan & Gilbert. 1879, 370; Beaufort (in part). 

 Pseudorhombus ocellaris, Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 370; Beaufort (in part). 



Diagnosis. — Similar to Paralichthys dentatus, but with fewer gill-rakers (12 on first arch), 

 with bend in lateral line .33 length of straiglit part, and of different color. Upper side dark 

 olive, often without markings but usually with a few darker mottlings or spots, {lethos igmus, 

 with forgotten spots.) 



This species is quite similar to Paralichthys dentatus, and has been confused 

 with it in the earUer hsts of North Carolina fishes. It ranges as far north as 

 New York, but is most common from Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf coast. It is 

 similar in size and habits to the summer flounder. Besides being common in the 

 coastal salt waters of North Carolina, it regularly resorts to fresh waters, and is 

 the only local flounder with that habit. The National Museum contains a speci- 

 men collected at Avoca, on Albemarle Sound, in 1878, by J. W. Milner. The 

 present writer, in April, 1891, found the species not uncommon in the western 

 end of Albemarle Sound, where it was often caught in pound nets and seines with 

 shad and alewives; it was also found to ascend the muddy Roanoke River some 

 distance above Plymouth, where 1 example 2 feet long and another 8 inches long 

 were collected. 



334. PARALICHTHYS ALBIGUTTUS Jordan & Gilbert. 

 "Flounder". 



Paralichthys albiguttus Jordan & Gilbert, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 1878, 370; Pensacola. Jordan, 



1886,29; Beaufort. Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2631. Linton, 1905, 411; Beaufort. 

 Pseudorhombus ocdlaris. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 370; Beaufort (in part). 

 Pseudorhombus dentafus, Jordan & Gilbert. 1879. 370; Beaufort (in part). 



Diagnosis. — Body elliptical, its depth contained 2.33 times in length; head contained 

 3.75 times in total length; mouth large, maxillary extending beyond eye; about 7 large teeth 

 on side of lower jaw and 4 or 5 in front of upper jaw, side teeth minute; eyes small, .14 or 

 .17 length of head; gill-rakers broad, toothed behind, 13 in number, the longest .4 as long as 

 eye; arch of lateral line .33 length of straight part; scales cycloid, covered with skin bearing 

 small flaps on many scales; fins low; dor.-al rays 72 to 80; anal rays about 60; pectorals rather 

 less than .5 length of head; ventrals .33 length of head; caudal margin double-concave. Color: 



