THE DORY. 221 



twice as long as the rays themselves ; the first rays of the soft por- 

 tion very short, gradually increasing to the seventh, the remainder 

 of equal length, not half as high as the spinous rays ; the soft part of 

 the anal fin answering to that of the dorsal; the spinous portion with 

 four stout rays commencing in a line under the sixth ray of the dor- 

 sal ; the intervening membrane not twice as long as the rays ; ven- 

 tral fins placed before the base of the pectorals, the rays extending 

 as far as to the second ray of the anal ; pectorals small not reaching 

 beyond the middle of the lateral spot. Eyes moderate, rather remote 

 from the snout, situated half-way between the point of the upper jaw 

 and the fourth ray of the dorsal fin. Operculum small, entire, of a 

 triangular form ; two spines occasionally behind the eye directed 

 backwards, and one on each side of the occiput; a row of sharp spines 

 on each side of the base of the dorsal and anal fins, at first simple, 

 afterwards forked ; between the ventrals and anal a double row of 

 large, strongly-serrated scales, the serratures pointing towards the 

 tail ; pectoral ridge before the ventrals, with three rows of the same 

 serratures ; lateral line commencing in a line with the upper margin 

 of the orbit, descending gradually down till opposite the middle of 

 the soft portion of the dorsal fin, from thence passing straight to the 

 tail. Scales of the body small and adherent, deeply impressed ; 

 mouth very protractile, under jaw the longest ; teeth, in both jaws, 

 arranged in two or three rows, with their points directed inwards 

 (Mr Yarrell states, that the teeth are placed in a single row in each 

 jaw) ; tail rounded at the end. Number of fin rays — 

 D. 33 ; P. 13 ; V. 8 ; A. 27 ; C. 12 ; Branchial rays 7. 



The Dory, or John Dory as it is sometimes named, is 

 said to be a common fish in the Mediterranean. It enters 

 the Atlantic and is taken of large size in the Bay of Biscay 

 off the French coast. On the south coast of England, par- 

 ticularly off that of Cornwall, these fish are in great abun- 

 dance ; but the farther north we proceed on the eastern 

 shores, they become of less frequent occurrence. In the 

 Firth of Forth seldom more than one or two are seen in 

 the course of the year, generally at the mouth of the Firth, 

 or on the sandy banks in Guillon Bay. 



Among the superstitious, the Dory disputes with the 

 Haddock the honour of having been the fish out of whose 



