GEN. PLATESSA. SMOOTH DAB. 227 



fish. It is thoiiglit by some almost to equal the 

 finest of the flat fish in delicacy of flavour, when 

 obtained in the best condition, which is from the 

 beginning of February to the end of April. The 

 ordinary length is from eight to nine inches, although 

 it sometimes reaches fifteen. Dr. Parnell informs 

 us that in the Firth of Forth numbers are caught 

 -vvith long lines baited with mussels, and they are 

 frequently found with other Flounders entangled in 

 the salmon-nets at Musselburgh and Queensferry. 



(Sp. 17J-) P' microcephala. Smooth Dab, or 

 Lemon Dab. This species has the body smooth ; 

 the head and mouth very small ; the jaws equal, 

 and the teeth wanting on the eye side, extending 

 very little more than half way round the mouth : 

 the lateral line is very little curved over the pec- 

 toral ; and the colour of the surface is pale reddish 

 brown, mingled with yellow, and a few scattered 

 dark brown specks. Judging from the localities 

 cited in works on Ichthyology, this fish appears to 

 occur all around Britain and Ireland, but the num- 

 bers are always so limited that it must be ranked 

 among the rarer of our flat fish. It is known at 

 Bath as the Lemon-sole ; at Plymouth as the Merry- 

 sole ; at Penzance as the Qucen-Jish ; in Edinburgh 

 as the Sand-Jleuk ; and sometimes in London as 

 the Smear-dab. Great differences of opinion have 

 been expressed as to the qualities of the flesh of tha 

 Smooth Dab ; and these have no doubt been occa- 

 sioned by its being brought to the table at different 

 seasons. From December to February it is perhaps 



