306 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [82] 



Monochirus Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, ii, 1839,303 (lingaattila). 

 Microchirus Bonaparte, Catalogo Metodico dei Pesci Europei, 1845-50 (after Swain- 

 son : lingula). 

 Buglossus Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iv, 1862, 462 (variegata). 

 Monochir Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iv, 1862, 462 (monochir). 

 Quenselia Jordan, Suhgenus noyum (ocellata). 



Type: Monochirus hispidus Rafliiesque. 



This small group of European soles seems to be worthy of generic 

 distinction from ISolea, not so much from the reduction of the pectoral 

 fins as on account of the reduced number of vertebra?, which forms a 

 step in the direction of the genus Achirus. 



The species are, however, much more nearly related to Solea than to 

 Achirus. Three subgeneric groups are included under the head of Mon- 

 ochirus as understood by us, and these might perhaps with no great 

 impropriety be taken as distinct genera. We think it better, however, 

 to place all together in one group, for which the name of Monochirus 

 has priority. We have not seen the paper of Eafinesque in which this 

 name is said to occur, but have taken our quotation from Bonaparte. 



For the second subgenus, the same name, Monochirus, was proposed 

 by Cuvier, but this is antedated by Monochirus of Eafinesque. The name 

 Microchirus given by Bonaparte to the same group has priority over 

 Giinther's name Buglossus. For the third group, we have suggested the 

 new name Quenselia in honor of the Swedish naturalist who first sep- 

 arated the soles generically from the flounders. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF MONOCHIRUS. 



a. Vertebra} 37 to 40; scales normal, strongly ctenoid. 



b. Pectoral of both sides well developed, that of the eyed side not quite half head, 

 that of blind side not quite a third ; vertebrae 37. ( Quenselia Jordau.) 

 a. Interorbital space very narrow, the eyelids thick, covered with rough scales; 

 blind side of head with conspicuous fringes; scales sub-villous, the spiu- 

 ules conspicuous, though less so than in Monochirus hispidus; color dark 

 gray, with some vague dusky blotches behind the gill opening ; 4 round 

 jet-black spots ocellated with white and about as large as eye disposed in 

 a quadrangle behind the middle of the body ; a black bar across base of 

 caudal; fins dusky; pectoral mostly blackish. Vertebrse 9+28=37. Head 

 4 in length; depth 2i ; D. 66 to 67. A. 52 to 54. P. 5-5. Lat. 1. 70 to 



75 OCELLATUS, 100. 



bb. Pectoral tin of blind side minute, that of eyed side small, not twice as long as 

 eye. (Microchirus Bonaparte.) 

 ((. Scales in the lateral line 55 to 60. Depth 2£ in length ; head 4| ; color 

 nearly uniform brownish, sometimes spotted with darker ; a few dark spots 

 on dorsal and anal tins, each involving part or all of the membrane of about 

 every fourth ray ; pectoral mostly black, its length not quite half more 



than that of eye Luteus, 101. 



dd. Scales in the lateral line 75 to 80. D. 63 to 73. A. 53 to 57. P. 5-3. Verte- 

 bras, 10 + 30 = 40. Depth 3 in length ; head 4| ; color brownish gray, 

 with broad irregular dark cross-bands which are darkest ou the dorsal and 

 anal tins ; pectoral partly dusky, its length not greater than that of eye. 



Variegatus, 102- 



