370 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



naturalist to notice the Long Rough Dab as occurring in 

 the Firth of Forth, from whence he obtained several speci- 

 mens in the summer of 1834. According to Mr Yarrell, a 

 specimen was seen by Dr John Harwood on the Sussex 

 coast in 1833. 



Platessa pola.* — The Pole-Dab. 



Specific Characters. — Head without tubercles ; scales large, not ci- 

 liated ; under jaw longest. (See Plate XXXVIII.) 



Description. — From a large specimen nineteen inches and a half 

 in length. Head small, one-fifth of the length, as far as half-way 

 down the caudal rays ; breadth of the body, fins included, exactly 

 half the length of the whole fish. Colour of the upper surface, yel- 

 lowish-brown ; under surface pure white. Dorsal fin commencing 

 over the middle of the left eye, and ending at a short distance from 

 the base of the caudal rays ; the first ray short, about half the length 

 of the orbit, the twenty-five succeeding ones gradually increasing in 

 height, the forty following rays of equal length, as long as the base 

 of the first ten, the remainder gradually decreasing, the last very short 

 and fine. Ventrals rather small, placed in advance of the base of 

 the pectorals ; the middle ray the longest, equalling the length of 

 the thirteenth ray of the dorsal. Anal commencing nearly under the 

 base of the pectorals, and terminating in a line with the last ray of 

 the dorsal ; the first ray very short, the ten succeeding ones rapidly 

 increasing, the forty following of equal height, as long as the middle 

 rays of the dorsal, the remainder gradually diminishing, the last very 

 fimall. Caudal rounded or somewhat angular at the end, the middle 

 ray as long as the base of the first sixteen rays of the anal ; pecto- 

 rals pointed, rather more than half the length of the head. Mouth 

 small ; under jaw longest ; teeth obtuse, small, set close together, 

 in one row in each jaw, all of equal height. Eyes large, the lower 

 one placed very conspicuously in advance of the upper ; lateral line 

 nearly straight throughout its course, bent very slightly over the pec- 

 torals. Scales on the body large, entire, and very deciduous ; those 

 on the fins small and adherent. Number of fin rays — 



D. 103 ; P. 9 ; V. 6 ; A. 91 ; C, 20. 



The Pole Dab is distinguished from the plaise in having 

 no tubercles on the head, and the scales of the body being 



" P/a<essajoo/o, Yarr., Jen., Cuv. Pfe«ronec/es joo/a, Lacepede. Pole, 

 Craifi Fluke, French Sole. 



