PLEURONECTID.E. 



Sands and Aberlady Bay. Dr. Richard Parnell, who has 

 devoted great attention to the fishes of the Forth, and to 

 whose kindness I am indebted for the largest example of this 

 species I have yet seen, obtained it, and other specimens, on 

 the Fifeshire coast during the months of February, March, 

 and April. I have received specimens also from Dr. John- 

 ston of Berwick. It is not uncommon in the London mar- 

 ket ; and is taken on the Sussex coast, where it is known by 

 the name of Town-Dab. Colonel Montagu observed it fre- 

 quently in Devonshire, where it is called Mary-Sole. 



Mr. Couch says it is rather a rare fish in Cornwall, and 

 does not readily take a bait ; but he has known it to be 

 caught in the trawl-nets. Mr. Couch adds, he has no 

 doubt this fish is the Kitt of Jago, figured in Ray's Synop- 

 sis, No. 1 ; the fish being reversed on the paper, and ap- 

 pearing with its eyes and colour on the left side, as in the 

 sinistral fishes. 



The flesh of the Smooth Dab is considered equal to that 

 of the Common Dab, and the substance of the body is much 

 thicker. This species spawns in May. 



Duhamel was well acquainted with the Smooth Dab ; but 

 considered it a rare fish on the coast of France, and on some 

 parts of it entirely unknown. 



The form of the body rhomboidal ; small-sized specimens 

 are more elongated : the length of the head is to that of the 

 head and body, without the caudal rays, as one to five and a 

 half; the depth of the body, including the dorsal or anal fin, 

 only just equal to half the whole length of the fish : the 

 mouth small ; lips tumid ; the jaws equal in length ; teeth in 

 an even, close, regular row in each jaw, but extending further 

 back on the white under side of the fish than on the upper ; 

 nostrils double : the eyes exactly over each other ; the orbits 

 separated by a strong, prominent, bony ridge, but without 



