308 PLEURONECTID.E. 



It occurs in Cornwall, and is recorded as found on several 

 parts of the east coast of Ireland between Waterford and 

 Belfast. 



The Dab feeds on small fish, Crustacea, and testacea, par- 

 ticularly Pecten obsoletus ; and is in best condition for the 

 table in February, March, and April. Its flesh is considered 

 superior to that of the Plaice or Flounder ; Cuvier says it is 

 in higher estimation in Paris than the Flounder, because it 

 bears carriage better. It spawns in May or June ; inhabits , 

 deeper water generally than the Flounder ; and on some parts 

 of the coast is caught both by sea-lines and hand-lines, the 

 hooks of which are baited with the usual marine sand-worm, 

 or a portion of the body of some of the testaceous mollusca. 

 The size of the Dab is commonly about eight or nine inches 

 in length, and seldom exceeds twelve inches. 



The form of the body is like that of the Flounder : the 

 length of the head is to that of the body as one to five ; the 

 greatest breadth compared to the whole length is as two to 

 five : the mouth and teeth small, the latter separated ; the 

 eyes rather large, the orbits divided, but the bony ridge is 

 not very prominent ; the length of the pectoral fin nearly 

 two-thirds the length of the head ; ventral fins small, in a 

 line under the origin of the pectoral fin : the dorsal and anal 

 fins extending along the body nearly to the tail, both ending 

 on the same plane ; the longest rays of both are placed be- 

 hind the centre : tail slender, elongated, and slightly rounded. 

 The fin-rays in number are 



D. 76 : P. 11 : V. 6 : A. 59 : C. 14. 



The form of the body is subrhomboidal ; the scales rough, 

 their margins ciliated ; the lateral line arched high over the 

 pectoral fin, the remainder to the tail straight ; the rays of 

 the dorsal and anal fins scaled ; the colour of the fish a uni- 

 form pale brown, with the under surface white. 



