PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 279 
Lateral line ‘very prominent, as.in H. evilis, the tubes coarse, their 
number (88 to 92) less than that of the transverse series of scales. 
Scales: 41 to 50; 110 to 120; 35 to 44. , 
Lateral line slightly rising anteriorly, but without arch. No acces- 
sory lateral line. Rays of all the fins on the eyed side (except the’ 
posterior part of dorsal and anal) and of the caudal on the left side 
covered high up with series of narrow ctenoid scales. 
Vins well developed, of firm texture, the tips of the rays protruding. 
Dorsal fin beginning immediately in front of the pupil, its anterior 
rays low, the others regularly increasing backwards to a point much 
behind the middle of the fin, then becoming rapidly shorter, the highest 
rays nearly half the length of the head and more than the length of the 
caudal peduncle. 
Anal fin preceded by a spine, its highest rays opposite to or in front 
of those of the dorsal and equal to them, the others rapidly shortened. 
Caudal long, double-truncate or convex, the middle rays considerably 
produced, as in H. evilis, more than in H. jordani. 
Pectoral fin half the length of the head, that on blind side shorter. 
Ventrals moderate, reaching past front of anal, their inner rays short- 
ened. 
Dorsal rays, 77 to 84; anal rays, 59 to 63; ventrals, 6. 
Color light olivaceous brown, nearly uniform on the body. Fins 
grayish, obscurely and irregularly blotched with dusky. Blind side 
plain. 
This species differs from Hippoglossoides jordani and H. exilis, the two 
species thus far known from the Pacific coast of the United States, in 
the presence of but a single row of teeth in the upper jaw. From H. jor- 
dani it further differs in the much smaller teeth, fewer fin rays, and 
more convex caudal. From H. evilis the small scales and firmer texture 
at once distinguish it. Its nearest relative is probably the Atlantic 
species, Hippoglossoides platessoides, which has a larger number of rays 
in the vertical fins. 
Hippoglossoides elassodon is known to us by about 20 examples of 
different sizes, all obtained with hook and line from the wharves at 
Seattle and Tacoma, in Washington Territory. 
