408 University of California Publications. [Geology 



bone. In Taralichthys calif ornicus the neural spine of the 16th vertebra 

 and the haemal of the 15th attaches each only one, otherwise regularly two. 

 That this point is of value must be shown by further observation than I 

 have been able to make. 



The caudal fin is broadly spread (margin 75 mm.) and the fin-rays are 

 in length about two-thirds the spread. The hypural is solid, not vertebra- 

 like, without a neck-like portion, and receives support from the spines of the 

 last vertebra only. The rays, seventeen in number, are very strong at the 

 base, weaken rapidly backward, are branched distally, and the first lateral 

 pair are 15 mm. long, outwardly curved and stout. The next one on either 

 side, 24 mm. long, is weaker and not branched. The hypural is unsym- 

 metrical, the dorsal margin being only two-thirds the length of the ventral. 



The vertebrae, 33 in number, retain their strength well from the sixth 

 backward. The first five are very much smaller than the succeeding ones 

 and curve strongly ventralward as they approach the skull. All are very 

 much weaker than those of the robust Platiclithys stellatus but very strik- 

 ingly resemble the smaller deep-sea flounders of our coast, as well as the 

 large ''bastard halibut," Paraliehthys calif ornicus. The ventrolateral pro- 

 cesses are very weak, being less in length than the width of the corre- 

 sponding vertebrae. The 3rd to the 12th bear very slender weak ribs, the 

 longest being 36 mm. The spines of the caudal vertebrae decrease grad- 

 ually in length to the 28th, whence backward they slightly increase. 



The bones of the head are very strong, the premaxillaries, maxillaries, 

 and mandibles standing out prominently and well defined. Both eyes occur 

 upon the right side, as in the halibut; the left orbit lies farther back than 

 the right, and its upper margin reaches to within 2 mm. of the dorsal 

 margin of the skull. The interorbital space is one-half the width of the 

 right orbit and an irregularly V-shaped suture Occurs between the orbits. 



The maxillaries are long and slender, but strengthen quite strongly back- 

 ward, and are arched 5 mm., the more strongly so anteriorly. Their general 

 direction makes an angle of 44 degrees with that of the spinal column. 

 The dorsal process anteriorly stands at an angle of 90 degrees with the 

 axis of the premaxillaries here. Three large conical-shaped teeth, 

 slanting slightly backward, occur in the premaxillaries in front, the third 

 being the strongest and longest. Back of these for the entire biting surface 

 occur sharply conical, closely set teeth (6 to the cm.) in a single row and 

 decreasing backward. The mandibles strengthen rapidly backward where 

 the depth is one-fifth the length. They probably bore even, sharp, broadly 

 conical, and slightly slanting teeth. Five can be made out quite definitely 

 and a space for two occurs between the first three and the last two. The 

 dental surface is slightly arched, the ventral surface of the maxillaries is 

 not shown, but the lateral view shows them long and strong, parallel with 

 the premaxillaries. The very long jaws, the sharp, large teeth, and the 

 open mouth present a very ferocious aspect. In the direction of the maxil- 

 laries, the size of the mouth, and in the character and strength of the teeth 

 this form differs radically from the living allies of the genus Bothus. Some 

 of the Hippoglossinae as the ' ' bastard halibuts ' ' approach these characters. 

 No trace of scales is present. 



