[17] FLOUNDERS AND SOLES. 241 



7. HIPPOG-LOSSOIDES ELASSODON. 



[Plate V.] 



Hijjpoglossoides elas&odon Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U. S.Nat. Mus., 18S0, 278 (Seattle, 

 Tacoma, Washington Territory). Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 1880, 454 (Puget Sound) and elsewhere. Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 1881, 242 (Puget Sound, St. Paul, Humboldt Harbor, Shumagins, 

 Iliulink, Unalashka, St. Michael's). Jordan and Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. A., 

 p. 826, 1882. Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1883, p. 20 (Unalashka). Jor- 

 dan, Nat. Hist. Aquat. Anim., 1884, 188, pi. 52. 



Habitat. — North Pacific, south to Puget Souucl. 



This is a rather abundant shore fish in Puget Sound, aud it seems to 

 be still more common northward, being, in Alaska, a food-fish of some 

 importance. 



Genus VII— PSETTICHTHYS. 



Psettichthys Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1854, 140 (melanostiotus). 



Type : Psettichthys melanostjctus Girard. 



This genus contains but a single species, found on the coast of Cali- 

 fornia. It is nearly related to Hippoglossoides, but possesses the peculiar 

 accessory dorsal branch to the lateral line, characteristic of so many of 

 the Pacific coast flounders. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF PSETTICHTHYS. 



a. Body elliptical; mouth rather small; maxillary 2f in head; teeth large, sharp, 

 imiserial ; eyes very small, 5 in head, separated by a broad, flat, scaly interspace; 

 gill-rakers slender,, X -f- 14 ; scales very small, ctenoid, adherent ; accessory lateral 

 line long; first rays of dorsal exserted, the longest 3 in head; head 4; depth 2£; 

 D. 85, A. 60, Lat. 1. 112; vertebra 11-f 29=40; color dark grayish brown, every- 

 where finely speckled with darker Mklanostictus, 8. 



8. PSETTICHTHYS MELANOSTICTUS. 



[Plate VI.] 



I'scttichthys mtlanostictus Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1854, p. 140 (San Fran- 

 cisco ; Astoria, Oregon). Girard, U. S. Pacif. R. R. Exped., Fishes, p. 154, 1859. 

 Giinther, Cat. Fish., iv, 420, 1862 (copied). Lockington, Eep. Com. Fisheries 

 Cal. 1878-79, p. 40 (San Francisco; Farallone Islands). Lockington, Proc. 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, p. 76 (San Francisco). Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U. 

 S. Nat. Mus. 1880, p. 453 (Puget Sound, San Francisco, Monterey Bay). 

 Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881,p. 67 (Monterey; Puget Sound). 

 Jordan, Nat. Hist. Aquatic Animals, 1884, 186, pi. 51 (Monterey to Wrangel, 

 Alaska). 

 Hippoglovsoides melanostictus, Jordan and Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. A., 1882, p. 828. 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska south to Mon- 

 tery. 



This is oue of the commoner flounders of the Pacific coast, being 

 everywhere known by the mime of " Sole." It lives near the shore, aud 

 reaches a length of about twenty inches. 



In color this species is quite unlike the species of Hippoglossoidcs, 

 but in most other respects the two groups are closely allied. 

 S, Mis, yo ~1G 



