Vol. 3] Starks-Morris. — Marine Fishes. 245 



San Pedro bays. Color in life: brown with round bluish spots 

 scattered sparsely over the body, and arranged in more or less 

 definite rows. A row of 3 or 4 along the lateral line at wide in- 

 tervals; an arched row of 10 or 15 midway between lateral line 

 and back, and a similar row between lateral line and ventral out- 

 line. Sometimes a few light spots and a row of obscure dark 

 spots, or sometimes rings at base of dorsal and anal. Other spec- 

 imens have the spots more scattered over the body ; the spots do 

 not show in preserved specimens. 



This flounder is a food fish of fair quality ; it is one of the 

 common species in the shoal waters from Tomales Bay (type 

 locality) to the head of the Gulf of California (Gilbert, MS. 

 notes). 



240. Parophrys vetulus Girard. 



(Jordan and Evermann, 1898. Ill, p. 2640.) 



Specimens from San Pedro. This flounder is found in great 

 abundance; it lives in water of moderate depths and never 

 reaches a large size. It is known from Alaska (Jordan, 1884, p. 

 185) to San Diego (Gilbert, MS. notes). 



241. Microstomus pacificus (Loekington). 

 (Jordan and Evermann, 1898. Ill, p. 2655.) 



Many adult specimens taken off San Pedro. A specimen 214 

 inches in length is apparently the young of this species. The eyes 

 are symmetrical, one on each side of head. The head is small, 

 contained six times i^ total length to base of caudal. The eyes 

 and mouth nuich snuiUer than in the adult, though of about the 

 same size in relation to the size of the head. Sharp recurved 

 teeth are present on both sides of jaws. The number of dorsal 

 and anal rays and vertebrae are the same as in the adult. The 

 color is the same on both sides of the body, very pale with a row 

 of dark brown spots on median line from above base of pectoral 

 to base of caudal ; those nearest head smaller and less distinct. 



Specimens having all of the characters of the adult with the 

 eyes and color on one side, are no longer, but have the body 

 thicker and deeper ; the head larger, 31/0 times in body to base of 



