198 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



generally relished as well as the P. plana. It is known as the Sand-dab. The 

 largest specimen I have seen, measured twenty-one inches in length, and weighed 

 three and a half pounds. 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley, Ayres. New York, Mitchill, 

 Dekay. 



Platessa ferruginea, Storer. 



The Rusty Flounder. 

 (Plate XXX. Fig. 4.) 



Platessa ferruginea, Rusty Dab, Storer, Report, p. 141, Plate II. 

 " " Rusty Flat-fish, Dekay, Report, p. 297. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, II. p. 476. 



" ' " " Synopsis, p. 224. 



Color. All the right side of the body is of a reddish slate color, with a tinge 

 of green, covered with numerous large, irregularly formed ferruginous spots. The 

 fins have the color of the body. Beneath, of a clear white, except the posterior por- 

 tion in front of the caudal fin, the caudal fin, and the margins of the dorsal and 

 anal, which are a lemon yellow. The pupils are black, the irides golden. 



Description. Body elliptical. The depth of the body is rather more than one 

 third the entire length of the fish. Its surface is roughened by the scales. The 

 length of the head is less than one fourth the length of the fish. The mouth is 

 small ; the lips are tumid. The jaws are equal, with a row of numerous small 

 teeth in each jaw; those upon the colored side of the upper jaw are very minute. 

 The anterior nostril is tubular. The eyes are large, and separated by a bony ridge, 

 which arises in front of the centre of the upper eye, (the fish being placed upon 

 its belly with the tail towards the describer,) and, passing in front of and around 

 that eye, goes backwards and downwards to the posterior superior angle of the 

 operculum, where the lateral line commences. The lateral line at its origin 

 curves upward to a height equal to about one fourth the length of the head ; 

 and at the distance of about one half the length of the head from its com- 

 mencement assumes a straight course, which it pursues to the extremity of the 

 caudal fin. 



The dorsal fin arises over the anterior third of the upper orbit, and its rays 

 gradually increase in their length towards its middle, where they are longest. This 

 fin terminates in front of the caudal rays at a distance equal to about one third 

 of their height : the extremities of the rays, which are Avhite, are free, and resem- 

 ble small filaments or tentacular 



