[59] FLOUNDERS AND SOLES. 283 



Its apparent abundance as compared with the other species of the genus 

 is doubtless due to its inhabiting shallower waters than they. 



Genus XXVII.— HYPSOPSETTA. 



Hypsopsetta Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, 195 (guttulatus). 



Type: Pleuronichthys guttulatus Girard. 



This genus consists of a single species, abundant on the coast of Cali- 

 fornia. It is very close to Pleuronichthys, from which it differs only in 

 a few characters of comparatively minor importance. Its range is in 

 shallower and warmer water than that of the species of Pleuronichthys, 

 and, in accordance with this fact, its flesh is firmer and its number cf 

 vertebrae less than in the latter genus. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF HYPSOPSETTA. 



a. Head without spines or tubercles ; accessory lateral line half length of body ; out- 

 line of body very broadly rhombic ; head, 3f ; depth, If ; D. 68, A. 50, lat. 1. 95. 

 Vertebrae, 11+24= 35. Brown, with numerous pale bluish blotches, fading in 

 spirits; blind side largely yellow in life Guttulata, 70. 



70. HYPSOPSETTA GUTTULATA. 



(The Diamond Flounder.) 



Pleuronichthys guttulatus Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1S56, p. 137. Girard, 

 Jour. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 1857, pi. 25, figs. 1-4. Girard, U. S. Pacif. 

 R. E. Exped., Fishes, p. 152, 1859 (Tomales Bay). Lockington, Rep. Com. 

 Fisheries California, 1878-'79, p. 44. Lockington, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 

 p. 94 (San Frausisco), 



Pleuroncctes guttulatus Giinther, Cat. Fish.,iv, 445, 1862 (copied). 



Hypsopsetta guttulata Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, 195. Jordan and Gilbert, 

 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 453 (San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa 

 Barbara, San Pedro, San Diego). Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U. S.Nat. Mus., 

 1881, 68 (Tomales, San Diego). Jordan and Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. A., 1882, 

 830. Jordan, Nat, Hist. Aquat, Auim., 1884, 185. 



Parophrys ayresi Guuther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iv, 1862, 457 (San Francisco). 



Habitat. — Coast of California ; Cape Mendocino to Magdalena Bay. 

 This species is one of the most abundant in the shore waters of the 

 California coast. It is a food-fish of fair quality. 



Genus XXVIII.— PAROPHRYS. 



Parophrys Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1854, 139 (vetulus). 



Type : Parophrys vetulus Girard. 



This genus consists of a single species, common on the Pacific coast 

 of the United States. 



The narrow interorbital space and the vertical range of the upper 

 eye give it a peculiar physiognomy, but in most regards it is not very 

 different from some of the species of Platessa. 



