OBSERVATIONS ON FISH SCALES. 
171 
C 0 TTIDA 5 . Sculpins. 
In the fossil Lepidocottus brevis (Agassiz), from the Upper Miocene at Wangen, Baden (E. Penard), 
the scales are as in the Gobiidae, with angled apical margin, a single row of marginal teeth, apical nucleus, 
Fig. 44. —Sebastodes paucispinis 
(Scorpaenidae). California. 
Fig. 45.— Prionotus strigatus 
(Triglidae). Apical struc¬ 
tures. Bureau of Fish¬ 
eries. 
Fig. 46. —Cephalacanthus volitans 
(Cephalacanthidae). A, high 
crest; B, pigment spots. Bu¬ 
reau of Fisheries. 
etc. Is it quite certain that this fish really is a cottid? Species of Lepidocottus have actually been 
described under Gobius. 
PLATYCEPHALIC. Flatheads. 
Gunther has figured the scale of Platycephalus cirrhonasus. It is of typically ctenoid character' 
with about four basal radii, but long and parallel sides, the shape suggesting the labrids. 
Suborder Craniomi. 
TRIGLIDAE. Sea robins. 
Prionotus strigatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes), the striped sea robin, from Woods Hole, has the scales 
subquadrate, about /p/ 2 mm. long and 5 broad, typically ctenoid, with the ctenoid patch large; basal 
radii about seven or eight; lateral circuli parallel with margin. The submarginal apical elements are 
very short, broader than long. 
CEPHALACANTHIDAE. Flying gurnards. 
Cephalacanthus volitans (Linnaeus), the flying gurnard, from Woods Hole, has greatly modified, 
strongly keeled scales, with the margin toothed. The form is sufficiently shown in the accompanying 
figure. There is nothing in the scales to suggest affinity between the triglids and cephalacanthids. 
Suborder Heterosomata. Flatfishes. 
I have given an account of the scales of these fishes in Proceedings of the Biological Society of Wash¬ 
ington, volume xxiv, pages 209-211; it remains now only to present some figures, and a few additional 
details. 
PLEURONECTIDAE. Flounders. 
I am indebted to Dr. F. B. Sumner for scales of Platophrys (or Rhomboidichthys) podas, from the 
Bay of Naples. In my table, in the paper just cited, they run to Platophrys constellatus , from which 
they scarcely differ. Both have traces of radial lines crossing the lateral circuli, producing a sort of 
delicate cancellation. The apical teeth in P. podas are about 7 or 8, very stout and strong. 
SOLEIDAL Soles. 
Scales of a species of Cynoglossus from Hongkong (M. C. Z., 11329) are large, about 9 mm. long 
and nearly 6 broad; strongly ctenoid on the upper (pigmented) side of the fish, strictly cycloid below. 
