THE POLE-DAB. 371 



large and deciduous ; it is distinguished from the mud-floun- 

 der, in the middle of the back and base of the dorsal and 

 anal fins being perfectly smooth and free from tubercles ; 

 from the salt-water flounder, in the scales not being ciliated, 

 the dorsal and anal rays being smooth, and the lateral line 

 over the pectorals nearly straight; from the smooth dab, in 

 having the under jaw longest, and the teeth extending the 

 whole way round and not being deficient on the eye side ; 

 from the long rough dab, in having all the rays of the fins 

 perfectly smooth, and the mouth small. 



This fish was first recorded as new to the British Fauna, 

 in the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal for 1835. The 

 only locality then known for it was the Firth of Forth. 

 Mr Yarrell, however, had obtained a specimen in Bond 

 Street in 1833, but on what coast it was taken does not ap- 

 pear to be known. In 1836 I met with three examples at 

 Brixham, on the coast of Devon, where they were taken in 

 the trawl-net with other fishes. In the Firth of Forth, since 

 the time I first discovered it, I have obtained fifteen speci- 

 mens, from the largest of which the above description was 

 taken. According to Baron Cuvier, this fish is not unfre- 

 quently taken along the coast of France, where it is held 

 in high estimation as food. The flesh of those taken in the 

 Firth of Forth was considered equal, if not superior, to that 

 of the sole. They shed their spawn in May and June, 

 when they are found in sandy situations, and are then taken 

 with lines. In the winter months they inhabit rocky 

 ground, and feed on different kinds of Crustacea. In the 

 stomachs of those examined were found the remains of small 

 crabs and star-fish. 



Genus HIPPOGLOSSUS.— Both eyes on the right 

 side ; dorsal fin commencing over the left eye ; caudal fin 

 concave at the end. 



a a 2 



