185 



DAB. 



Passer asper, 

 Pleuronectes limanda, 



Pleiironeete limande, 

 Platessa limanda, 



Pleuronectes limanda. 



WlLLOUGHBY; p. 97, pi. F. 4. 



Ltxx.eus. BLOcn, pi. 46. 



Donovan, pi. 44. 



Lacepede. 



CuviER. Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 198. 



Jenyns; Manual, p. 4-56. 



Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 307. 



Gusther; Cat. Br. M., vol. iv, p. 448. 



The Dab is one of our commonest fishes, but not one of tbe 

 most abundant; nor docs it ajjpear to abound elsewhere, 

 although it is met with in the far north of Europe. Its range, 

 however, does not extend proportionally to the south, and 

 although it is mentioned by Lacepede as an inhabitant of the 

 ]\Iediterranean, it is not named as seen in that sea by writers 

 who have given an account of fishes which have occurred 

 within their own observations. But it is well known along all 

 the coasts of the British Islands, where it often takes the hook, 

 and its food is worms, crustaceous animals, and small shell-fish. 

 Its resort is in smooth and sandy ground, and frequently in 

 sandv bays, althousrh at times it is taken at the distance of 

 several miles from land. I have found the milt ready to be 

 shed at Christmas, but the usual time for spawning is in the 

 spring. It is in esteem for the table as superior to the Plaice. 



This fish rarely exceeds a foot in length, but the example 

 described measured thirteen inches, with a breadth, exclusive 

 of the fins, fiv^e inches and a fourth. The general form oval; 

 gape rather small, undei; jaw a little protruding, with (in most 

 cases) a small chin or tubercle; teeth stout, not close together; 

 lowermost eye a small degree in advance; a ridge of moderate 

 elevation between the eyes, in a recess of which is the largest 

 nostril. Lateral line arched at first, and thence straight, 

 VOL. III. 2 B 



