310 PLEURONECTID.E. 



In tracing the occurrence of the Smooth Dab round the 

 coast, Dr. Neill of Edinburgh says it is taken off Seton 

 Sands and Aberlady Bay. Dr. Richard Parnell, who has 

 devoted great attention to the fishes of the Forth, and to 

 whose kindness I am indebted for the largest example of this 

 species I have yet seen, obtained it, and other specimens, on 

 the Fifeshire coast during the months of February, March, 

 and April. I have received specimens also from Dr. John- 

 ston of Berwick. It is not uncommon in the London mar- 

 ket ; and is taken on the Sussex coast, where it is known by 

 the name of Town-Dab. Colonel Montagu observed it fre- 

 quently in Devonshire, where it is called Mary-Sole. 



Mr. Couch says it is rather a rare fish in Cornwall, and 

 does not readily take a bait ; but he has known it to be 

 caught in the trawl-nets. Mr. Couch adds, he has no 

 doubt this fish is the Kitt of Jago, figured in Ray's Synop- 

 sis, No. 1 ; the fish being reversed on the paper, and ap- 

 pearing with its eyes and colour on the left side, as in the 

 sinistral fishes. 



Mr. Thompson says the Smooth Dab is widely distributed 

 on the coasts of Ireland, but limited in numbers. 



The flesh of the Smooth Dab is considered equal to that 

 of the Common Dab, and the substance of the body is much 

 thicker. This species spawns in May. It feeds on testa- 

 ceous and crustaceous animals, and is said to feed also on 

 chitons. 



Duhamel was well acquainted with the Smooth Dab ; but 

 considered it a rare fish on the coast of France, and on some 

 parts of it entirely unknown. 



The form of the body rhomboidal ; small-sized specimens 

 are more elongated : the length of the head is to that of the 

 head and body, without the caudal rays, as one to five and a 

 half; the depth of the body, including the dorsal or anal fin, 

 only just equal to half the whole length of the fish ; the 



