ZOOLOGY. 357 



The small codfish described by Dr. Girard as Morrhua proximo, is probably also found in 

 Puget Sound. It is, generally, not over five or six inches in length. 



PLATICHTHYS EUGOSUS, Grd. 



The Rough Flatfish. 



Platichthys rugosus, GRD. Proc. Acad. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, pp. 139 and 155. IB. Gen. Rep. Fishes, p. 148. 



SP. CH. Eyes moderate, situated on the left side. Interocular space moderate. Peduncle of tail long ; origin of dorsal fin 

 corresponding to a vertical line intersecting the middle of the pupil. Scales very rugose and plate like ; lateral line slightly 

 arched above the pectoral fins. Left side, reddish or olive brown ; fins, olivaceous, dorsal and anal, with alternate vertical bands 

 of black, longitudinal on tail. Ventrals and pectorals, unicolor. Right tide, dull yellow, (white when fresh.) 



This fish is abundant at Shoalwater bay during the warmer months; frequenting the flats and 

 small channels among shoals. I never succeeded in catching it with a hook, nor have I heard 

 of its being done. But by wading in the shallow pools left by the tide they may be taken in 

 large numbers with the hand, net, or spear. They have a curious mode of escape, by darting 

 rapidly to a muddy spot, stirring up the mud, and then returning suddenly to the place they 

 started from. By carefully watching this trick they may be found half-buried in the mud where 

 least expected. 



The largest I have seen were about ten inches long. C. 



Several species of flounder and sole are common in Puget Sound. The latter are a little 

 larger than the sole of the British waters, and somewhat thicker in proportion. The fins on 

 their lower surface are frequently tinged with black. The smaller kinds, or flounders, are 

 extremely numerous near Fort Steilacoom. They are readily caught at low tide, in water about 

 four fathoms deep, with hooks baited with clam or other bait. The Indians spear great num 

 bers in the shallow bays, and on the flats opposite the mouths of the rivers. When cooked 

 they resemble the common flounder of the Atlantic, and although not very highly esteemed for 

 the table, are yet, when well cooked, very good food. 



EMBIOTOCA PERSPICABILIS, Grd. 



Sapphire Perch. 



PLATE XXXII & PLATE XXVI, FIGS. 1 & 2. YOL. X. 



SP. CH. Body sub-elliptically elongated. Frontal region gently declivous. Eyes of medium size. Posterior extremity 

 of maxillary not quite reaching the interior rim of the orbit. Anal fin long, its anterior undivided rays longer than the rest, 

 and its origin situated opposite the twelfth articulated ray or dorsal. Tips of pectorals reaching vertical line intersecting base 

 of last dorsal spine. Five branchiostegal rays. Sixty-three scales in lateral line. Deep purplish blue above, lighter beneath. 

 Flanks with light narrow longitudinal stripes intersecting the point of union of rows of scales. Dorsal, caudal, anal, and ventral 

 fins reddish purple ; pectorals yellowish. 



SYN. Embiotoca perspicabilis, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1855, 321. IB. Gen. Rep. Fishes, 178. 



This viviparous perch is exceedingly abundant in the waters of Puget Sound, near Fort 

 Steilacoom. It is a very handsome fish perhaps, in its bright colors, the most striking of any 

 found in those waters. A specimen, obtained in February, 1855, had eighteen mazarine blue 

 streaks below the lateral line, running nearly parallel from gills to tail, and having both above 

 and below the line a series of blue spots disposed crescentically beneath the eye and on the gill 

 covers. The spaces between these spots were of an olivaceous color, changing, according to 



