No. 15. JOHN DORY, DORY. 



Zeus f uber, Linnaeus. 

 Usual extreme length : 20 inches. 



Description: -Body considerably compressed on the sides; head 

 and mouth of large size, the latter being- capable of much 

 protrusion when open ; rows of spines along- the bases of the 

 dorsal, and second anal fins, ten spinous rays in the first portion 

 of the dorsal fin, twenty-two or twenty-three soft rays in the 

 hinder part; the anal fin divided into two distinct sections, the 

 first consisting of four spines, and the second of twenty-one to 

 twenty-three soft rays. Filaments occur at the tips of the 

 dorsal spines, and the ventral fins are of considerable length. 

 The coloration in life is yellowish grey, with wavy bands of a 

 lighter shade, and a conspicuous black spot, edged with yellow, 

 on the centre of each side. 



The Dory spawns from the end of May to August; its food 

 consists chiefly of living fishes, such as sand-smelts, rocklings. 

 etc. These are stalked in the most leisurely fashion by the 

 Dory, which relies solely upon its slender anterior outline as 

 a means of approaching to a convenient striking' distance of its 

 prey without being observed. 



Range: From the coast of Norway to Madeira, and through- 

 out the Mediterranean. In British waters, the Dory is chiefly 

 to be met with in the English Channel and Bristol Channel; 

 in the North Sea the species is comparatively rare. 



Remarks: The Dory is a table fish of excellent quality, commanding 

 a fairly high price in the London market. Curiously enough, however, 

 a certain prejudice exists against the species, due to the fact of its some- 

 what grotesque appearance. The popular name "John Dory' is 

 derived from the French words jaiuie doree (golden yellow), in reference 

 to the colour. 



Like many another fish possessing little depth of flesh, the present 

 species is not suitable for boiling, but is excellent for frying or baking 

 in the method described for Grey Mullet. 



