285 



COMMON DORY. 



Zeus Faber. Z. viridi-aureo fuliginosus, corpore utrinqug macula 

 media fusca. 



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



each side the body. 

 Faber. Salvian p. 203. Will, ichth.p. 294. t. S. 16. 

 Zeus Faber. Z. cauda rotundata, lateribus mediis ocello fuscog 



pinnis analibus cluabus. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 454. 

 Zeus Faber. Z. macula fusca in lateribus. Block, t. 4 J . 



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 ; 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- 



