HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 197 



Platessa dentata, Storer. 



The Flounder of New York. 



(Plate XXX. Fig. 3.) 



Pleuronectes dentatus, Flounder of New York, Mitch., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 390. 

 Platessa dentatus, Flounder of New York, Storer, Report, p. 143. 



" " " " Dekat, Report, p. 298. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Aead., New Series, n. p. 476. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 207. 



Color. All the right side of the body and the fins of a uniform reddish-brown. 

 Pupils black, irides golden. 



Description. Body elongated. The length of the head to the whole length of 

 the body, exclusive of the caudal fin, about as one to four. The eyes are situated 

 upon the right side of the body, and placed over each other, — the upper slightly 

 posterior, — separated by a bony ridge, covered with scales similar to those over 

 the whole head. The longest diameter of the eye nearly equal to one sixth the 

 length of the head. The mouth is very large, the perpendicular gape being nearly 

 equal to two thirds the length of the head ; the upper jaw projects slightly be- 

 yond the lower ; both jaws are furnished with a single row of prominent, sharp 

 teeth, separated from each other, so that when the mouth is closed the teeth of 

 one jaw shut into the space between those of the opposite jaw ; the lower jaw has 

 a blunt, bony tubercle at the chin. The lips are small. 



The lateral line is nearly straight, making only a scarcely perceptible curve over 

 the pectoral fins. 



The dorsal fin commences just over the middle of the eye, and terminates at 

 the base of the fleshy portion of the tail ; the first rays are quite short, and grad- 

 ually lengthen towards the middle of the fin, whence they again diminish posteriorly. 



The pectorals are subtriangular, and nearly half the length of the head. 



The third and fourth rays of the ventrals are the longest; the posterior ray 

 is very minute. 



The anal fin commences on a line beneath the middle of the pectorals, and 

 terminates opposite the dorsal fin. The edges of the dorsal and anal fins on the 

 right side are fringed by the continuation of the whiteness of the left side 

 upon them. 



The fin rays are as follows: — D. 98. P. 11. V. 6. A. 70-75. C. 18. 



Length, twelve to twenty-one inches. 



Remarks. This species is frequently taken in the winter season at Provincetown ; 

 and is occasionally brought to Boston market. It is a sweet fish, but is not 



