FAMILY PLANID^ — PLATESSA. 295 



coast of New- York, and returning in June or July. Others suppose that he retires to deeper 

 waters in the winter, without changing his latitude. He is found as far north as the coast of 

 Greenland. Specimens sometimes occur with the eyes and colored surface on the left side. 



GENUS PLATESSA. Cuvier. 



Body rhomboidal. Eyes and color usually on the right side. A row of cutting obtuse teeth 

 in the jaws, and frequently paved teeth on the pharyngeals. The dorsal advances over 

 the upper eye, and leaves a naked interval between it and the caudal. Form rhomboidal. 

 A few small ccEca. 



* EYES AND COLORED SURFACE ON THE RIGHT. 



THE NEW-YORK FLAT-FISH. 



Platessa plaka. 



PLATE XLVIII. FIG. 154. — PLATE XLIX. FIG. 158. Reveesed and doubled. 



The New-York Flal-fish, Pleurimecles planus. MiTCHiLt, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 387. 

 The Flounder of Massachusetts ^ Platessa plana. Storer, Massachusetts Report. 



Characteristics. Elliptical. Greenish with darker spots. A concealed anal spine. Length 

 six to eighteen inches. 



Description. Form elliptical. Length of the head to the total length as one to five and a 

 half. Scales small, orbicular, beautifully ciliate under the lens, and of nearly equal dimen- 

 sions throughout the head and body. Just before the anal fin, is a sharp horizontal spine. 

 The lateral line very distinct, and rising very gradually towards the head, curves above the 

 pectorals. Under jaw rather longest. Mouth small. A single row of minute acute teeth in 

 the jaws ; the half of the jaw next to the colored portion, without teeth. Teeth on the pala- 

 tines. 



The dorsal fin commences above the upper eye, and gradually increases in the height of 

 its rays to the posterior third, when it as gradually diminishes to the end. Pectorals small, 

 fan-shaped, and of nine rays. Ventrals beneath the pectorals, with the rays projecting be- 

 yond the membrane. Anal fin arises a short distance behind the ventrals, equal in height to 

 the dorsal, and coterminal with it. Caudal broad and rounded. 



Color. This is extremely variable in this species. The more usual appearance is pale 

 greenish, with numerous darker or brownish small irregular clouds or patches over the body 

 and fins, as is represented in the plate. Pupils black ; irides golden or greenish. Pearly 

 white beneath. Dorsal, caudal and anal faint yellowish brown. Branchial membrane bright 

 olive. They are occasionally slate-colored and rusty brown. 



Length, 8-0. Depth, 3-5. 



Fin rays, D. 67 ; P. 10 ; V. 6 ; A. 46 ; C. 17 |. 



