SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 395 



342. ETROPUS CROSSOTUS Jordan & Gilbert. 

 E trope. 



Etropus crossotus Jordan & Gilbert, Proceedings U. S. National Museum 1881, 364; Mazatlan. Jenkins, 1885, 

 11; Beaufort. Jordan, 1886, 29; Beaufort. Jenkins, 1887, 92; Beaufort. Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 

 2689, pi. ccclxxxvi. fig. 946. Linton, 1905. 415; Beaufort. 



TEtropus microstomus. Jenkhis,l8S5; Beaufort. Jordan, 1886, 29; Beaufort. 



tCitharichthys microstomus, Jenkins, 1887, 92; Beaufort. 



Diagnosis. — Dorsal and ventral outlines strongly arched anteriorly, depth contained 

 1.75 to 2 times in length; head small, contained 4.8 times in length; cleft of mouth less than 

 diameter of eye; teeth in upper jaw on blind side, in lower jaw on both sides; eyes large, 

 separated by a narrow ridge; opercle on under side edged with a row of wliite cilia; scales in 

 lateral series about 45; dorsal rays 76 to 85, the middle rays longest, none produced; anal rays 

 56 to 67; caudal fin double truncate; left pectoral fin the longer, .75 length of head; ventral 

 fin on right side the longer, .5 length of head. Color: olive brown with dark blotches; vertical 

 fins mottled with black and gray; pectoral and ventral of left side spotted, {crossotus, fringed.) 



This species inhabits both coasts of tropical America, and on the eastern side 

 ranges as far north as North Carolina, where, however, it is not common. Sev- 

 eral examples were obtained in Beaufort Harbor by Dr. Jenkins in 1885. In 

 1902, 3 specimens were obtained for the laboratory in a trawl net at Cape Look- 

 out. The length attained is 6 inches. 



Family SOLEIDiE. The Soles. 



Comparatively small flat-fishes, found in warm and temperate waters in all 

 parts of the world, some of them inhabiting deep water and others shoal water. 

 The American species are of little economic value, but the European are very 

 important, one of them, the English sole (Solea solea), being by many regarded 

 as the most delicious salt-water fish. The body is either dextral or sinistral, 

 elongate or rotund, scaly or naked; the mouth is very small, and twisted toward 

 the eyed side; the teeth, in villiform bands, are either obsolete or very small; the 

 eyes are very small and close together; the gill -openings are narrow; the pectoral 

 fins are small or absent; the ventrals are small and one or both of them may be 

 lacking. Of the 4 American genera, 2 are represented in the North Carolina 

 fauna, as follows: 



i. Eyes on right side, separated by a bony ridge; body ovate; right ventral fin with a long base 

 confluent with anal fin; scales on blind side of head fringed; lateral line present. 



ACHIRUS. 



ti. Eyes on left side, not separated by a bony ridge; body elongate; left ventral not connected 

 with anal; scales on head not fringed; lateral line absent Symphurus. 



Genus ACHIRUS Lac^pede. Hog-chokers; American Soles, 



A numerous genus of small soles, chiefly American, with dextral, very much 

 compressed and oval body, both sides covered with rough, ctenoid scales extend- 

 ing on the fins; scales of nape and chin enlarged, those on blind side of h^ad with 

 their teeth elongated, forming cirri; straight lateral line; nostrils with flaps, the 

 under nostril fringed; teeth only on blind side of jaws; dorsal fin beginning on 

 snout, caudal peduncle short, pectoral fin of left side lacking, that of right side 



