THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 330 
Etropus microstomus (Gill). 
PLATE 113. 
Little Flounder. 
Head 444; depth 214; D. 83; A..65; RP. .9; V- 6; scales 
about 40 in lateral line counted from head to base of caudal and 
3 more on latter; 12 scales in a vertical series between thirty- 
third dorsal ray and lateral line; 16 scales between ninth anal 
ray and lateral line in a vertical series; mandible 244 in head; 
thirtieth dorsal ray 214; twenty-first anal ray 144; caudal 1; 
pectoral 1%; ventral 1°/,,; snout 5 in head measured from tip 
of upper jaw; eye 4%; maxillary 324; least depth of caudal 
peduncle 134. Body strongly compressed, ovoid, with bulge 
anterior or about first third in total length, and upper profile a 
little more evenly convex than lower, which has lower margin 
straight after bulge. Caudal peduncle broad, and strongly com- 
pressed. Head well compressed, much deeper than long, edges 
more or less trenchant and upper with a notch just before eye. 
Snout a little broader than long, surface somewhat convex. Eyes 
sinistral, a little elongate, and lower anterior to upper about first 
sixth of its length. Mouth small, obliquely vertical, and with 
gape a little curved up in profile. Mandible well protruding. 
Lips fleshy, though not very thick. Maxillary curved, its pos- 
terior margin encroaching on lower anterior margin of eye, and 
its distal expansion about a third of horizontal diameter of latter. 
Teeth small, in small bands, and close together in jaws, those 
in front a little enlarged. Nasal area rhombic, and nostrils sepa- 
rated and about level with bony interorbital keel, which separates 
eyes. Dextral nostrils close to indenture of upper profile and simi- 
larly separated. Lower edge of preopercle entire. Gill-opening 
extending forward about opposite posterior margin of upper pupil. 
Gill-rakers about 5 short weak tubercles and much shorter than 
filaments, which are about 2 of upper eye horizontally. Isthmus 
narrow, surface presenting a narrow flattened triangle. Shoul- 
der-girdle encroaches in isthmian tavity as deep trenchant or 
rudder-like process with slightly produced point. Scales on left 
