Description of a new flounder (Pleuronichthys verticalis), from the coast of California, with notes on other species

PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 49 of Kcw York. They are in the condition of natural casts in fine-grained sandstone, but I have quite satisfactorily identified a dorsal valve of StrieJdandinia saltcri and one of S. davidsoni Billings. If these two spe-cies are correctly identified, as they apjiear to he, their discovery iu Georgia is especially interesting, because they have hitherto been found only in strata of the island of Anticosti ; and also of the indication which they and their associates in the two regions named afford as to the equivalency of the Georgia, Clinton, Anticosti strata iu America; and Upper Llandovery strata of Great Britain. WASHiNaTON, D. C, February 15, 1880. BESCRIPTIOIV OF A NEW^ FliOUIVDER (B»l.ElTK©IVaCIITHVS VERTI-CAliS!^), FROM THE COA^^T OF CALIFORNIA, WITH IVOTE!>i OIV OTHER SPECIES. By DAVID S. JORDAN aaad CB5ARI.ES M. GII.BERT. Pleuroiiichthys verticalis sp. nov. Form broad ovate, the outlines regular; head small, somewhat con-stricted behind the upj)er eye; eyes large, but smaller than in P. quadrifuhercidatus. luterorbital ridge narrow; a small tubercle or prominence in front of the upper eye; a large one in front of upper edge of lower; another larger and sharper at interior edge of the in-terocular space ; another at the posterior edge of the interocular spine ridge. This latter is developed into a long, sharj), triangular spine, which is nearly as long as the pupil, and is directed backwards. A I)rorainent tubercle at the posterior lower angle of the upper eye. Upper edge of opercle somewhat uneven, but no other tubercles present. Mouth small, as in other species; the lips thick, with lengthwise plicffi. Teeth in a broad band on the left (blind) side of each jaw ; no teeth on the right side in cither jaw. Gill-rakers very small, weak, and flex-ible, about ten in number. Scales essentially as in the other species, small, cycloid, imbedded, and scarcely imbricated. Lateral line nearly straight, with an accessory branch which extends to the middle of the dorsal fin. Dorsal fin beginning on the blind side at the level of the jiremaxillary, there being but about four of its rays on the left side of the median line. Vertical fins less elevated than in the other species, the longest rays of the dorsal about half the length of the head. Anal fin preceded by a spine. Caudal i)eduncle short and deep. Caudal fin elongate, rounded behind. Pectoral short, nearly equal. Yentrals moderate, reaching anal spine. Fin rays: D. G5; A. 45. Color dark olive-brown, with round grayish spots, the body and fins mottled with blackish. Proc. Nat. Mus. 80 4 Hay 6, 1 § 80.

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Description of a new flounder (Pleuronichthys verticalis), from the coast of California, with notes on other species

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