302 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



The dorsal fin commences anterior to the eyes, and near the end of the snout ; the first six 

 or eight of the foremost rays have their tips detached from the membrane, and present a ragged 

 appearance, which is not accidental, as I have observed it in all the specimens which I have 

 examined. Attached to these rays are loose membranous slips, as exhibited in the plate. 

 This fin is about an inch high, and is coterminal with the anal. The base of the pectoral is 

 beneath the twenty-first ray of the dorsal ; the pectoral is pointed, with the third and fourth 

 rays longest. Ventrals longer than high, not originating from a common base as usual; the 

 colored pectoral arising from the abdominal edge, and almost confounded with the anal ; the 

 uncolored fin is parallel with this, and two-tenths of an inch distant, on the uncolored side. 

 The vent also is on this surface. The anal fin commences immediately over the vent, and is 

 composed of weak flexible rays. Caudal fin an inch and a half long, and rounded. 



Color. Dark olive-brown above, with rounded deep chocolate brown spots on the body, 

 becoming larger behind, and oblong on the fins, are rather of a lighter color than the body. 

 When held up to the light, the whole animal is diaphanous, showing the position of the viscera 

 in the abdominal cavity. The eyes are surrounded with a faint bluish white ring, which, soon 

 after death, changes to a dull white. On the colored side, are likewise a few distant light- 

 colored spots. Pupils black, surrounded by a golden ring. The under side of the usual bluish 

 white. 



Length, S'O. Depth, 3-5. 



Fin rays, D. 68 ; P. 12; V. 6 ; A. 56 ; C. 15 |. 



Although I feel convinced that this is the Watery Flounder of Mitchill, yet I cannot recon- 

 cile the radial formula of my own and other describers. I may have possibly erred in trans- 

 cribing my notes. On the coast of Massachusetts, it is sold as "the English Turbot ;" from 

 which, however, it is readilj^ distinguished by the absence of the numerous tubercles on the 

 colored side, which characterize that species. 



The Spotted or Watery Turbot is considered as a delicate article of food, and has been 

 known to weigh twenty pounds. I have never seen them, except in two instances, larger than 

 the dimensions stated above. It is sometimes called the Watery Flounder, and more frequent- 

 ly the Sand Flounder. 



{EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



P. giacialis. (Richardson, 1. c. p. 258.) Ovate. Caudal cuneiform, entire. A spine before the anal. 

 Scales small, rough. Lateral line straiglit. Length nine inches. Arctic Seas. 



