278 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
It is, however, evident that there is no special affinity existing between 
the present species and Parophrys vetulus, and no very close relation 
between cither and Lepidopsetta isolepis Lockington, which, by its tech- 
nical characters, would be also a Parophrys. The nearest natural ally 
of Parophrys ischyrus is perhaps Lepidopsetta bilineata, and the present 
arrangement is to be accepted only until the relations of these forms can 
be more fully investigated. 
Hippoglosscides elassodon, sp. nov. 
Body oblong-elliptical, strongly compressed, the dorsal and ventral 
outlines regularly and pretty strongly arched. Caudal peduncle mod- 
erate, about as long as deep and growing wider behind. 
Head rather large, bluntish, its upper profile continuous with the 
outline of the back. Depression over the eye slight. Mouth compara- 
tively large, very oblique, the upper jaw somewhat concave in outline, 
the lower correspondingly convex, the gape considerably wider on the 
blind side than on the right side. Lower jaw rather strongly protruding, 
with a considerable symphyseal knob. Maxillary rather narrow, reach- 
ing to opposite the middle of the pupil or beyond, the maxillary on the 
blind side much longer than the other. Premaxillary anteriorly on the 
level of the interocular space. 
Upper jaw with a single series of small conical teeth, which are not 
very sharp. These teeth are somewhat larger in front than on the sides, 
and also more widely set. Everywhere they are quite small, much 
smaller than in Hippoglossoides jordani, and not larger than in H. evilis. 
Lower jaw with a single series of rather close-set teeth similar to those 
in the upper jaw, or slightly larger; those on the sides smaller than the 
39 + 45 
25 + 35° 
Eyes large, nearly even in front, the upper eye directed somewhat 
upward, but not reaching the dorsal line. Interorbital space a narrow 
sharp ridge, with about two rows of minute scales; 10 to 15 rows of 
scales in an oblique series on the cheeks. A series of mucous pores 
around lower eye behind. Preorbital narrow. Anterior nostril with a 
rather long flap, posterior with a slight tube 
Gill-rakers long, slender, and straight, 15 to 17 below the angle of the 
arch, their inner margins feebly dentate. Pyloric cceca 4. 
Seales small, firm, less readily deciduous even than in H. jordani, rough 
to the touch, with the spinules short and firm. Scales on head similar, 
but more imbedded, those on the tail larger and rougher 
Seales on blind side small, mostly smooth, except on the caudal pedun- 
cle, where they are larger and rough ctenoid, like the scales on the right 
side. The scales along the base of the dorsal and anal and those near 
the lateral line more or less ctenoid. Scales along left side of head small, 
non-imbricate, those on the preopercle and posterior part of the cheeks 
becoming obsolete. The amount of roughness on the scales below is 
subject to considerable variation. 
anterior teeth. Number of teeth about 
