302 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
Eyes large, dextral, their anterior margins about even with each 
other; the upper eye larger and directed obliquely upward. A con- 
spicuous ocular ridge about the upper eye, becoming continuous with 
the lateral line. Interorbital space narrow, not half the width of the 
eye, scaly, as is the space in front of it. Cheeks wide, the posterior 
edge of the preopercle free. Opercle rather short and weak. Premaxil- 
lary protractile, capable of little protrusion. 
Gillrvakers long and strong, about 4 + 13 ia number, the longest 
more than half the diameter of the eye. 
Scales very small and thin, irregularly arranged, their margins weakly 
ciliated, in about 135 transverse series; about 100 tubes in the course of 
the lateral line. The lateral line is nearly straight, gently ascending in 
front. No aecessory lines. Scales on blind side similar. 
Dorsal fin beginning just behind the middle of the eye, its rays low, 
especially anteriorly, its greatest height considerably behind the mid- 
dle. Caudal fin somewhat forked. Anal fin higher than the dorsal, its 
highest rays about midway. No spine before anal. Caudal peduncle 
long and slender, about as long as the maxillary. Pectoral fins short, the 
one on the right or eyed side longest, its length nearly equal to that of 
the maxillary. Ventral fins very short, reaching just past the vent. 
Fin rays: D. 101; A. 89. 
Color plain brown, with darker -punctulations. Left side white, the 
many dark points. giving it a soiled appearance. Tins dusky. 
This species is known to us from one example over a foot long, bought 
in the San Francisco market, and taken just outside the Golden Gate. 
It doubtless reaches a much larger size, and the adult is probably less 
slender than this example. 
It differs from its congener, the Greenland Halibut, Platysomatichthys 
hippoglossoides, of the North Atlantic, in the slenderer body, larger 
mouth, longer gill-rakers, and narrow interorbital space, but the two 
appear to agree in all respects of generic value. 
We regret the necessity of using the clumsy and inappropriate generic 
name Platysomatichthys for these fishes instead of the name Reinhardtius 
proposed by Professor Gill. The former name, although later in date, 
has priority of definition.* 
Table of measurements of Platysomatichthys stomias. 
Eioneme leno thy See tee eae the eel eee tee eet 12.9 inches 
frenocth to base of caudaleeeee sean eee ee 10.9 inches= 100 
Greavesp depth on <bodiy wie Lee iey Peta! es ee eee tee aes eae eae 21 Fe R i .30 
Measit depths?) 135.4 ot So ssen ae ees te os Bh Vane oF arn ep eh oe, oy Tee tg .07 
Hencolvotrcaudal peduncle 2 5. So) san sek aertes Aa sae eae oae oie clon eee 2 
HFenou Ota ea de es oo sre fo aed pee ber. ga ee Eo ty Pt 228 
Nunmiberotoill-ralkers «Ss jo cams 20 arene re toate Se Ee eee neta a eet eee 4,11 
mensthiorslonwest gillaraker’ 2252 542 ees ee ee ee. ee 03% 
Hencthiol snout 2.95822. 222 Fa STAY RIL te ON is Lar PS ee .068 
GenethjotemasxdMiary sso 320 6 2) RE see Sys) aS rel eis aes eee es eee ella 
*In a paper written later, but by accident printed earlier (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 
1820, 51), we have recognized this species as the type of a distinct genus, Atheresthes. 
