187 



SMEAR DAB. 



LEMON UAR. LEMON SOLE. QUEEN. SMOOTH DAB. 



-''1 ivi^i. Jago; in Ray's Synopsis Piscium; but by 



this name Jago only meant to say that 

 this is allied to the Brill, which fish is 

 called Kitt, or Kite, in Cornwall. 

 Pleuronede Umandelle, LACErEDE. ? 



Flatessa microcephalus, Fleming ; British Animals, p. 198. 



" Jenyns; Manual, p. 457. 



Yarrell; British Fishes, vol. ii, p. 309. 

 Flearonedes microcephalus, Donovan; pi. 42, but the head not well 



expressed. 

 " "' GuNTHER; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. iv, p. 447. 



This fish appears to have much of the habits of the Dab, 

 and is equally common round the British Islands, except towards 

 the more northern parts. I learn, however, from Mr. Iverach, 

 of Kirkwall, that he has known it taken in Orkney in July; 

 but it is less frequently caught with a hook: a circumstance 

 little to be wondered at when we examine its mouth, which 

 is so small that in the lesser examples it seems difficult to 

 imagine how any but a minute object can be admitted into 

 it. It is frequently caught with the trawl, and has a good 

 repute for the table. The ground it frequents is for the most 

 part stony; and it goes far to the north, as well as through 

 the Baltic. It is prepared for spawning early in February, 

 and appears to be among the most prolific of flatfishes; the 

 lobes of roe being large, and extending back from the small 

 abdominal cavity, compressed but wide, almost to the tail. 

 The stomach and bowels are of slight texture, but the latter 

 are large, and it is probable that the usual food is either 

 vegetable or of the smaller sea insects, f Entromostraca.J 



