PLATESSA.] PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. 45? 



P. Limanda, Flem. Brit. An. p. 198. Pleuronectes Limanda, Linn. 

 Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 457. Block, Ichth. pi. 46. Don. Brit. Fish. 

 vol. n. pi. 44. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 96. Passer asper sive 

 squamosus, Witt. Hist. Pise. p. 97. tab. F. 4. Dab, Penn. Brit. 

 Zool. vol. in. p. 230. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 308. Limande, 

 Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 339. 



LENGTH. From six to nine, rarely twelve, inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) General form similar to that of the Flounder: 

 greatest breadth contained about twice and a half in the length, including 

 caudal : head contained five times in the same : dorsal line nearly con- 

 tinuous with the profile, suffering very little depression above the eyes : 

 teeth small ; sharper and narrower than in either of the foregoing spe- 

 cies, and not set quite so closely together : eyes large, but rather less pro- 

 minent than in the Plaice; both equally advanced towards the mouth; 

 between them a slightly projecting ridge, passing backwards in an 

 ascending direction, but not accompanied by any osseous tubercles: 

 lateral line at first strongly curved, but after passing the pectoral, 

 straight to the end of its course: both sides of the body rough, but 

 the upper one much the most so ; the scales having their free edges 

 ciliated : dorsal, anal, and caudal fins as in the Plaice : before the anal, 

 a small, sharp, reclined spine, directed forwards: pectorals more than 

 half the length of the head ; first ray only half the length of the second ; 

 third longest; the first two and the last simple; the others branched: 

 ventrals small, nearly in a line with the pectorals : number of fin-rays, 



D. 72 ; A. 57 ; C. 18 ; P. 10 ; V. 6. 



(Colours.) Upper side of a uniform pale brown; sometimes clouded with 

 shades of a darker tint, or with a few ill-defined spots : beneath white. 



Rather less abundant than either of the foregoing species, and never 

 attaining to so great a size. Found, nevertheless, on most parts of the 

 British coast. Feeds on marine worms and small Crustacea. Spawns in 

 May and June. 



144. P. microcephala, Flem. (Lemon Dab.) Oblong- 

 oval : lateral line slightly curved above the pectoral : body 

 smooth : head and mouth very small : jaws equal : teeth 

 obtuse. 



P. microcephala, Flem. Brit. An. p. 198. Pleuronectes micro- 

 cephalus, Don. Brit. Fish. vol. n. pi. 42. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 96. 

 P. laevis, Id. I.e. P. microstomus, Niks. Prod. Ichth. Scand. 

 p. 53. ? Rhombus Isevis Cornubiensis maculis nigris, (A Kitt,) 

 Jago in Rays Syn. Pise. p. 162. fig. 1. Smear-Dab, Penn. Brit. 

 Zool. vol. in. p. 230. but not pi. 41. no. 106. Id. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 309. pi. 47. New species of Sole, Edinb. New Phil. 

 Journ. no. 37. July, 1835. p. 209. 



LENGTH. From twelve to eighteen inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Oblong-oval; more elongated than any of the pre- 

 ceding species : greatest breadth, dorsal and anal fins excluded, contained 

 twice and three-quarters in the entire length : head very small, not more 

 than one-seventh of the entire length : dorsal curve continuous with the 

 profile, falling regularly to the extremity of the snout : mouth extremely 

 small; lips a little projecting: jaws equal: teeth cutting, set closely 



