26 



Id form it is extremely slender, the greatest widtli scarcely extend- 

 ing one fourth of the total length, and tapering rapidlj^ toward both 

 extremities. The head enters about four and a half times in the 

 total length, and is narrow, with an immense mouth, the upper jaw 

 of which exceeds in length the one half of that of the head. The 

 eyes are almost even in front, the upper one placed almost across the 

 top of the head, and looking toward the dorsal outline. The teeth 

 are numerous, in a double row in both jaws, irregular in size, hooked 

 incurved canines interspersed among smaller upright teeth. The 

 scales are large and soft, resembling in their character those of 

 Oitharichthys sordidus, and the color is a dirty yellow. 



Very few examples have yet been found in our markets, and most 

 of these have been secured for scientific purposes. 



The range of this species is not ascertained. 



Glijptoccp] talus zacJdrus, Long-finned Flounder — Up to the present 

 time this species is only known from the markets of San Fran- 

 cisco, to which it is brought from deep water near Point Reyes, 

 some thirty miles north of the city. It is comparatively rare, 

 seldom more than three or four are offered for sale on any one day, 

 and it is not brought in at all in the winter. It attains a length of 

 eighteen inches, and a weight of about two pounds, and is held in 

 high esteem. Hitherto it is only known to occur in Monterey Bay 

 and in the vicinity of San Francisco. As its mouth is too small for 

 the hook, and its habitat too deep for the gill-nets, it is taken chiefly 

 in sweep-nets. 



Cynicoglossus pacificus, Short-finned Flounder — This is the Glypto- 

 cephalus pacificus of the report of the Fish Commissioners for 1879. 

 It is usually brought to market from the same place as the preceding 

 species, but is known to occur at other points from Monterey to Puget 

 Sound. It occurs in the market much more abundantly than the last 

 species, yet the adults cannot be said to be common. In size and 

 flavor it does not equal G. zacJiirus. When fresh it is excessively 

 slimy to the touch. 



PleuronicJdhys decurrens, Bastard Turbot — The species described 

 by me as P. coenosus Girard (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 97, 1879) was there 

 surmised to be the Fleuronectes quadritubercidatus of the old Russian 

 naturalist Pallas. It differs from Girard's coenosus in the presence 

 of tubercles upon the side of the head on the colored side. It is now 

 known not to be Pallas' species, and has been named decurrens b}^ 

 Jordan and Gilbert. 



This fish is now of more frequent occurrence in our markets than 

 formerly, and becomes more abundant towards the south. It reaches 

 about a toot in length, and a weight of from two to tliree pounds. 



Pleuronichthys verticalis, Spine-cheeked Turbot — This form was 

 first noticed as a separate species by Professor Jordan, and was des- 

 cribed by him from specimens found in San Francisco market. In 

 1879 I obtained a small example of this fish, but did not venture to 

 describe it as distinct, although some of its peculiarities are noted 

 in my review of the Pleuronectidse (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1879, 99). 



The dorsal fin is not carried downwards on the blind side of the 

 head so far as in the previous species; the cheek is without spines, 

 the posterior extremity of the interorbital ridge is developed into a 

 backward directed spine, and the anterior into two shorter upright 

 spines. This species has occurred in our markets during the present 

 year with tolerable regularity. In Monterey Bay it is of common 



