[101] FLOUNDERS AND SOLES. 325 



Charleston. The greater slenderness of the original type is perhaps 

 clue to distortion, and the smaller number than usual of the scales does 

 not afford a marked distinction. 



On account of the fact that the West Indian species as a rule is a 

 little slenderer than the northern one and has a little larger scales, 

 Dr. Jordan has elsewhere adopted for the former the Linnaean name, 

 but, on the whole, it seems more probable that the original plagiusa was 

 the northern fish. 



The name ornatus is also doubtful in its proper application. The only 

 thing distinctive in the description of Lacepede is that the typical speci- 

 men was " given by Holland to France." Many of the species in this 

 Dutch collection seem to have come from Surinam, and this is probably 

 no exception. But Lacepede's description might apply as well to any 

 other species of Symphurus as to this. 



Tbe name Pleuronectes plagusia, given by Schneider to the species de- 

 scribed by Brown, seems to admit of no doubt, as this is the only one of 

 the group yet known from Jamaica. If, therefore, the name plagiusa 

 be used for the northern species, or dropped altogether as not identi- 

 fied, the present species will stand as Symphurus plagusia. 



We have compared numerous specimens from Rio Janeiro (represent- 

 ing the nominal species tessellatus or brasiliensis) with others (plagusia 

 = ornata) from Havana. There is certainly no permanent difference. 

 The Brazilian specimens are a little more slender on an average, but 

 there are numerous exceptions, and all variations in color are found in 

 both. 



132. SYMPHURUS PLAGIUSA. 



(Tongue-fish.) 

 a. Var. plagiusa. 



Pleuronectes plagiusa LiunaeUs, Syst. Nat., ed. xii, 1766, 455 (on a specimen from Dr. 

 Garden, probably from Charleston, bnt the locality not quite certain ; asd of 

 various copyists). 



Glossichlhys plagiusa Gill, Cat. Fish. E. Coast N.Am., 1861,51 (name only). 



Flag usia plagiusa Gill, Cat. Fish. East Coast N. Am., 1872-'3, 794 (name only). 



Aphoristia plagiusa Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1878, 368 (Beaufort). 

 Jordan, op. cit., 1880, 22 (St. John's River). Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit., 

 1882, 305 (Pensacola) ; 1882, 618 (Charleston). Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis 

 Fish. N. A., 1882, 842. Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 144 (Key West). 



Plagusia fasciata Holbrook, MSS. DeKay,Ne\v York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 304 (Charles- 

 ton). 



Aphoristia fasciata Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1886, 53. 



I). Var. pusillus. 

 Aphoristia pusilla Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. N. Mus., 1885, 590 (Gulf Stream; lat. 40°). 



c. Var. diomedeanus. 

 Aphoristia diomedeana Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1835, 589 (Gulf of Mexico; 24 fathoms). 



Habitat. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. 



