HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 393 



fin terminates in front of tlie caudal rays at a distance equal to about one third 

 of their height : the extremities of the rays, which are white, are free, and resem- 

 ble small filaments or tentaculse. 



The pectorals are situated at the posterior angle of the operculum; the ex- 

 tremity of the first ray reaches the arch of the lateral line at its centre. 



The ventrals are opposite the pectorals, and extend to the origin of the anal fin. 



Just anterior to the anal fin is a strong horizontal spine, almost concealed by 

 the flesh. 



The anal fin commences under the posterior third of the ventral fins, and 

 terminates on a plane with the dorsal fin: this fin is of the same form as the 

 dorsal; like it, its longest rays are towards the centre of the fin; and the tips 

 of the rays are free. 



The caudal fin is rounded; its central rays are three fourths as long as the 

 head. 



The fin rays are as follows:— D. 84. P. 10. V. 6. A. 65. C. 16. 



Length, eighteen to twenty inches. 



RemarJcs. This species is occasionally brought to Boston market, in the winter 

 and early spring, from the northwestern coast of Massachusetts Bay, and princi- 

 pally from the vicinity of Cape Ann, where it is taken in about thirty fathoms 

 of water. 



Massachusetts, Stoker. New York, Dekay. 



Platessa glabra, Storer, 



The Plaice of Massachusetts. 

 (Plate XXXI. Fia. 1.) 



Platessa glabra, Plaice, Storek, Proceed. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., i. p. 130. 

 " " " " Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, ii. p. 477. 



" '' '' " Synopsis, p. 225. 



Color. Above grayish, mottled with dark brown: dorsal, anal, and caudal fins 

 reddish-yellow, with well-marked, nearly black spots, more or less oval, diiFering in 

 their size. Ventrals of a light brown. 



Description. Body elongated, perfectly smooth. The length of the head is rather 

 less than one fifth of the whole length of the fish, including the tail. The eyes 

 are prominent, not so much so, however, as in the plana ; the inferior eye hardly 

 in advance of the upper. The lips are fleshy. The mouth is very protractile. 

 Numerous sharp, cylindrical, somewhat conical teeth exist in both jaws; those on 



