A HISTORY OF CORNWALL 115. Lemon Dab. Pleuronectes microcepkalus, Donov. Usually called lemon sole in the fish trade. Common on the trawling grounds, scarce in shallow water. 1 1 6. Dab. Pleuronectes limanda, Linn. Common. 117. Witch or Pole-Dab. Pleuronectes cyno- glossus, Linn. Dunn obtained one at Mevagissey, and Mr. Cornish considers it rare along the Cornish coast. It is a northern species of which only occasional wanderers occur in Cornwall.
- n8. Flounder. Pleuronectes Jlesus, Linn.
Very common in the estuaries ; descends to the sea in the spawning season, February to May. The young of this species are abun- dant in the tide pools of Mevagissey Harbour in April and May in various stages of meta- morphosis, the youngest being quite trans- parent. 119. Sole. Solea vulgaris, Quensel. Common and fine. A few young speci- mens about to f inch long occur with the young flounders at low tide in Mevagissey Harbour in May. 1 20. Lemon Sole, Sand Sole, French Sole. Solea lascaris, Risso. This is a true sole quite distinct from the lemon dab, which is called lemon sole by fish dealers. It is at first sight similar to the common sole, but distinguished by the colour and by the dilated fringed nostril on the blind side. It is comparatively rare. 121. Thick-back or Variegated Sole. Solea variegata, Donov. Common on the trawling grounds. 122. Solenette. Solea /utea, Risso. Common in sandy bays as well as in deeper water. Does not exceed 4 or 5 inches in length, and is often erroneously supposed to be the young of the common sole. PLECTOGNATHI 123. Spotted File-fish. Batistes maculatus, Gmel. A single specimen in the British Museum stated to have been received from Polperro, but Day thinks this is probably a mistake. 124. File-fish. Balistes capriscus, Gmel. A specimen was taken in 1865 at Porthloe, and came into the possession of J. Couch. 125. Globe-fish. Tetrodon lagocephalus, Linn. A specimen obtained at Penzance i foot in length was described in Pennant's British Zoology (1776). A specimen from Mount's Bay was recorded by Boase in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833. In 1867 one 19 inches long was taken near Truro, and in 1868 one at Penzance (Zool. 1868). Couch, without giving the years, states that one was taken at Polperro, two in Mount's Bay and one at St. Ives. It belongs to the tropical Atlantic. 126. Sun-fish. Orthagoriscus mala, Linn. Large specimens are occasionally captured in summer and autumn. Borlase mentions a specimen from Mount's Bay, and I saw a large specimen a few years ago at Penberth, west of Penzance. 127. Oblong Sun-fish. Orthagoriscus trun- catus, Retz. Borlase also mentions this species in his Natural History of Cornwall as taken at Pen- zance in 1743. Couch mentions two taken in Mount's Bay in 1855. One was taken at Charlestown and is in the Truro Museum. In 1883 one was caught in Looe Harbour (Clogg, Zool.) PERCESOCES
- 128. Thick-lipped Grey Mullet. Mugil
chela, Cuv. This species is abundant at certain times and places. Large specimens are captured in large numbers at Sennen in winter time by means of seines. They are common about the docks at Falmouth, and in the Swan Pool near that town. In the latter place the water is almost fresh, but the sea water enters at flood tide. The outlet is protected by a grat- ing so that mullet can only enter when small and young.
- 129. Thin-lipped Grey Mullet. Mugil
capita, Cuv. Day states that he obtained many speci- mens from the south-west coast, but the present writer has never identified it. 130. Sand Smelt or Atherine. Atherlna presbyter, Jenyns. Very common in all the harbours and estuaries. 131. Larger Launce or Sand Eel. Ammody- tes lanceolatus, Lesauvage. Common on sandy shores. 132. Lesser Launce or Sand Eel. Ammody- tes tobianus, Linn. More abundant than the preceding species. 302
