220 PLEURONECTID.E. 



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

 parts of the east coast of Ireland between Watcrford and 

 Belfast. 



The Dab feeds on small fish, Crustacea, and marine in- 

 sects ; 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 esti- 

 mation in Paris than the Flounder, because it bears carriage 

 better. It spawns in May or June ; inhabits deeper water ge- 

 nerally 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 comiUionly 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 

 fi,ve : 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 end- 

 ing on the same plane ; the longest rays of both are placed 

 behind 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. 



