REVIEW OF LOCAL FISHES 97 



very closely and replaces it on the southern shores of the United States, 

 has been recorded from this vicinity where it certainly is very rare. Its 

 gill rakers are shorter, wider set and fewer than in our Summer Flounder, 

 there being about ten on the lower limb of the first gill arch instead of 

 fifteen or sixteen. Related to the Summer Flounder and representing it 

 in deeper water off shore much as the Rusty Dab represents the Winter 

 Flounder, is the Four-spotted Flounder, a smaller fish which may be 

 readily recognized by four large, dark, ocellated spots on its colored side, 

 one pair (above and below) in the neighborhood of the middle of the 

 body and the second pair, closer together, further back near the tail. 



The remaining three species are the Sundial, Sand Flounder and 

 Small-mouthed Flounder. They differ from the three just considered in 

 having the ventral fins unsymmetrical, the one on the eyed side extend- 

 ing along the ridge of the abdomen. The Sundial is a not uncommon 

 species in this vicinity. Its body is exceptionally deep^ the depth con- 

 tained about one and three-fifths times in the length to the base of the 

 tail fin, and its color is characteristic, the upper surface being covered 

 with rather small sharp blackish spots of varying size. Its flesh is trans- 

 lucent, and when held to the light a shadow may be seen through the 

 fish, in spite of which fact, the Sundial is one of the most delicious species. 

 But on account of its comparative scarcity and small size, it will 

 probably never be known as a table fish. The Sand Flounder is a small 

 form common in the tropics and of accidental occurrence here. Its 

 mouth is decidedly small, its eyes unusually large. In color it is rather 

 irregularly waved and mottled, and has several ocellated spots, which 

 are not very bold, one situated in the middle of the body somewhat 

 posteriorly. The body practically ends at the termination of dorsal 

 and anal fins which almost touch the beginning of the caudal fin above 

 and below. This is quite unlike the Sundial which has a fairly well 

 marked caudal peduncle. The Small-mouthed Flounder is a rather broad, 

 that is, deep-bodied, small southern species with a very small head con- 

 tained about four and four-fifths times in the length to the base of the 

 tail fin. Unlike the Sundial and Sand Flounder, its lateral line has 

 practically no arch above the pectoral fins. Its color is uniform. This 

 species is said to occur here in fall though we have never seen it. 



