268  Storer's Observations on the Fishes of Nova Scotia 
to the nature of the bottom, it is indifferent, frequenting alike 
sandy and rocky situations, where it has for its neighbors only 
the Acanth. Grenlandicus and lobsters, of which latter an 
abundance is to be found as far to the eastward as Bras d’Or. 
94. PLATESSA rostrata H. R. Storer. 
Plate VIII. fig. 2. 
Color. Bluish slate, with yellowish spots. Outer ray of 
caudal both above and below, white; as is also the posterior 
ray of both dorsal and anal. 
Destription. Eyes on right side of head. Form elliptical. 
Length of head about one fifth length of fish. Greatest depth 
one half whole length. A prominent ridge between eyes, 
which curves upward and backward, continuing to posterior 
margin of operculum. Snout much projecting, so as to form 
a deep hollow at the anterior superior angle of upper eye 
orbit; just behind this hollow and over anterior half of eye, 
the back begins to ascend. Gape of mouth moderate. Jaws 
equal and fully armed with numerous minute teeth; teeth 
also on hyoid bone. Eyes moderate; a semicircular line, 
much resembling in appearance the lateral line, below lower 
eye, thus partly encircling it. 
The lateral line, which seems to be a continuation of the 
ridge on operculum, curves abruptly and much over pectorals, 
and then pursues a straight course to middle of caudal fin. 
The curve here spoken of is, as well as that of the opercular 
ridge, much less on left side than on right; and the line itself 
is not so plainly perceived. 
Operculum somewhat emarginated just front of pectorals. 
Anal spine prominent; blunt spine on chin perceptible ; also 
that at inferior angle of preopercle. Scales on left side 
much more firmly imbedded than on the right. A small 
patch of scales on the superior portion of operculum, together 
with those in the immediate neighborhood of the lateral line, 
much the largest. ibd. | me 
