DORY. 167 



three times as long as the rays. The base of the second dor- 

 sal fin about as long as that of the first ; the rays flexible, 

 and only half as high as those of the first : the pectoral fin 

 small and short, ending on a line with the anterior edge of 

 the dark spot on the side ; the ventrals very long and slen- 

 der, arising in advance of the pectorals, the rays reaching 

 as far back as the first flexible ray of the anal ; the first 

 spinous ray of the anal fin is on a line with the posterior 

 edge of the dark spot, and with the sixth spinous ray of the 

 dorsal ; the flexible portion commences and ends nearly 

 on the same planes as the flexible dorsal : the tail is narrow, 

 long, and slender ; the lateral line advancing at first straight, 

 afterwards rises in an elevated arch over the dark spot, 

 which is placed at about the diameter of its own breadth 

 behind the posterior angle of the operculum. A row of 

 spiny scales pointing backwards are ranged along the base of 

 the dorsal and anal fins on both sides. 

 The number of fin-rays are — 



D. 9. 22 : P. 13 : V. 9 : A. 5. 21 : C. 13. 



The prevailing colour of the body is an olive-brown, 

 tinged with yellow, and reflecting in different lights, blue, 

 gold, and white ; when the living fish just taken from 

 the net is held in the hand, varying tints of these differ- 

 ent colours pass in rapid succession over the surface of the 

 body. The membranes of the flexible portions of the fins 

 are light brown : those of the spinous portions are much 

 darker. 



A large portion of the Dorees supplied to the London 



fish-market is brought by land-carriage from Plymouth, 



and some other parts of the Devonshire coast. Being a 



ground fish,* they are little or none the worse for keep- 



* See page 22. 



