FISHES OF XEW YORK 717 



De Kay described this flounder under tlie name of the toothed 

 flatfish. He said it was extremely common in New York 

 markets, where it is called the summer flounder, and that it 

 grows to the length of 25 inches. It is a rather common food 

 fish of the deep waters northward on both sides of the north 

 Atlantic, ranging habitually south to Cape Cod and the coasts 

 of England and Scandinavia. At Woods Hole it is sometimes 

 called sand dab and rusty flounder. Dr Smith says it is not 

 common there, but is found some years in winter in inshore 

 waters adjacent to Woods Hole; specimens have been taken in 

 February on lines. One year some w^ere caught in a fyke net 

 in Great harbor. In Massachusetts bay it is a common species 

 in the deep waters, approaching the shores in winter. 



Genus paralichthys Girard 

 Eyes and color normally on the left side; body oblong; mouth 

 large, oblique; each jaw with a single row of usually slender 

 and sharp teeth, which are more or less enlarged anteriorly,^ 

 no teeth on vomer or palatines; gill rakers slender; scales small, 

 w^eakly ctenoid or ciliated; lateral line simple, with a strong 

 curve anteriorly; dorsal fin beginning before the eye, its anterior 

 rays not produced; both ventrals lateral; caudal fin double 

 truncate, or double concave, its middle rays produced; no anal 

 spine. Species numerous, found in all warm seas. This genus, 

 as now restricted, contains a considerable number of species, 

 inhabiting both coasts of America and the eastern and southern 

 coasts of Asia. As indicated by the reduced number of verte- 

 brae, the species range farther southward than do those of the 

 type of Hippoglossoides. 



360 Paralichthys dentatus (Linnaeus) 



Summer Floumlev 



Plein-onectes dentatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 458, 176G; Mitciiill, 



Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N". Y. I, 390, 1815. 

 Pleuronectes melanogaster Mitchixl, op. cit. 390, 1815, New Yorli. 

 Pkitessa oceUaris De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes. 300, pi. 47, flg. 152, 1842. 

 Pseiidorltombus ocellaris Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 430, 1862. 

 Platessa obJonga Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 201, pi. XXXI. fig. 2, 1867. 

 Pseudorhombus dentatus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 7, 1879. 



