285 



COMMON DORY. 



Zeus Faber. Z. liridi-aureofuligwosus, corpore utrinque macula 



media Jit sea. 

 Gold-green, fuliginous Dory, with a dusky central spot on 



each side the body. 



Faber. Salman p. 203. Will, ichth.p. 2g4. t. .S. 16. 

 Zeus Faber. /. cauda rotundata, lateribus mcdiis ocello fvsco, 



pifims analibus duablts. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 454. 

 Zeus Faber. Z. macula fusca in lateribus. Block, t. 41. 



THE common Dory is a native of the Mediter- 

 ranean, Northern, and Atlantic seas, and is dis- 

 tinguished by its large and long head, its dusky or 

 smoky green colour, accompanied by a strong 

 gilded tinge, and particularly by a large, oval, 

 dusky spot on each side the body : it is of a less 

 compressed form than others of its genus except 

 the Opah, and is generally found of the length of 

 twelve or fifteen inches, though it sometimes ar- 

 rives at a far superior size, and to the weight of 

 ten or twelve pounds : the mouth is wide - y the 

 lower jaw longer than the upper, the teeth small 

 and sharp, and the eyes large : the whole body 

 is covered with very small scales, and marked by a 

 curved lateral line, which descending pretty suddenly 

 from the gill-covers, passes on to the tail : the back 

 is much arched* and furnished with a row of strong, 

 small prickles, which are also continued along the 

 curve of the abdomen : at the base of the pectoral 

 fins are also two very strong and sharp spines : the. 

 first dorsal fin is large, and several of the first rays 

 project to a considerable distance beyond the con- 



