302 CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES, ETC. 



Brotula Cuv. Tail terminating in a point ; mouth 

 with six cirri. 



B. barbata Bl. Sch. pi. 31. fig. 2. 



Pteridium Scopoli. Body anguilliform ; dorsal, caudal, 

 and anal fins united ; ventral fin of a long, single, 

 undivided ray ; no cirri ; tail pointed. 



O. ater. Risso, Ichth. 142. pi. 11. fig. 41. 



Family 3. PLEURONECTID^. Flat Fish. 



Body very thin, oval ; the dorsal and ventral fins ex- 

 tending nearly the whole length of the fish ; the rays 

 being simple, and nearly spinous, hut hid in the flesh ; 

 both eyes placed on the same side of the head. 



Pleuronectes Linn. Body rhomhoidal; both eyes placed 

 on the right side ; the dorsal fin commences above 

 the upper eye, and, as well as the anal, terminates 

 before reaching the caudal ; each jaw with a range 

 of cutting teeth, and others tessellated. 

 P. platessa. Bloch, pi. 42. 



Hippoghssus Cuv. Body more elongated and thicker 

 than any of this family ; eyes, fins, and teeth as in 

 the last. 



H. glgas. Bloch, pi. 47. 



Psetta Aristotle*, Cuv. Body rhomboidal; dorsal 

 fin commencing at the edge of the upper jaw, and 

 extending, as well as the anal, almost to the caudal ; 

 eyes approximating, with a short crest-like cirrus. 

 P. maximus. Bloch, pi. 49. 



Platophrys Sw. General form of Psetta, but the eyes 

 are very remote from each other, and the ventral 

 fins are confounded with the anal. 



P. ocellatus. Spix and Agassiz. pi. 46. 



* I see no reason for substituting Rhombus Cuv. for the more ancient 

 and classic name of Psetta, imposed by Aristotle upon this group ; still less 

 for transferring a nearly similar name, Psettus, to a group of Oriental fish 

 which have no connection whatever with the Psetta of the ancients ; and 

 of which, in fact, they seem to have had no knowledge. 



