MUGILID^. 233 



of the head, from 1 to lj- diameters from the end of the snout, and 2% 

 apart. Interorbital space slightly convex. Snout obtuse : upper lip rather thick, 

 with two or three rows of papillae on its lowest portion, the size of which much 

 decreases in many examples after they have been some time in spirit ; while in 

 others there are several but much smaller rows perhaps due to season. Angles made 

 by the anterior edges of mandibles obtuse, the extent of the gape of the mouth 

 being about three times as wide as the depth of its cleft : mandibles very broad : 

 the end of the maxilla visible behind and below the angle of the mouth. Pre- 

 orbital obtusely truncated, posteriorly coming to a point : its lower edge, which is 

 somewhat rounded, being finely serrated. Nostrils nearly close together, and 

 somewhat nearer to the orbit than to the end of the snout. A narrow strip of 

 the chin is uncovered. Teeth fine labial ones in the upper lip. Fins the dorsal 

 commences somewhat nearer the caudal fin, or midway between it and the end of 

 the snout : spines stout, the two first of the same height, and equalling that of 

 the postorbital length of the head. The interspace between the two dorsal fins 

 equal to or slightly exceeding that of the base of the first dorsal. Second dorsal 

 anteriorly slightly higher than the first. Pectoral inserted somewhat above the 

 centre of the depth of the body, and its length equalling that of the head excluding 

 the snout. Ventral inserted midway between the origins of the pectoral and first 

 dorsal fin. Anal below the second dorsal and rather higher than it. Caudal forked, 

 the length of each lobe being about equal, or rather less than that of the head. 

 Scales about 26 between the snout and the base of the first dorsal fin. The 

 second dorsal commences above the twenty-ninth scale of the lateral-line : the 

 pectoral reaches the tenth or twelfth, and has no elongated angular scale at its 

 angle ; while such is present at the base of the vented and first dorsal. A few 

 scales on upper part of the preorbital and the anterior edge and base of soft dorsal 

 and anal fins. Intestines five rather short ccecal appendages. Colours Gray 

 shot with bronze about the head, cheeks golden, sides silvery dashed with gold ; a 

 dark line along each row of scales along the back and sides. 



In 1861 Mugil septentrionalis, Giinther, was separated from M. chelo, for which 

 subdivision the following reasons were principally adduced. In M. septen- 

 trionalis, pyloric cceca five instead of seven (as in M. chelo). Upper lip with two 

 rows of papilla? instead of three ; preorbital with its anterior angle obtuse and its 

 posterior pointed, instead of its posterior extremity being rounded, its anterior 

 angle not much wider than its posterior, and possessing a longitudinal ridge ; 

 twenty-six scales between the snout and base of first dorsal fin, instead of twenty- 

 eight ; ten rows to the end of the pectoral instead of thirteen ; origin of spinous 

 dorsal midway between end of snout and base of caudal fin, instead of being 

 nearer the caudal than to the snout. Professor Collett, 1. c, and Steindachner 

 (Sitz. Ak. Wiss. Wien. 1868, lvii, pi. 680-685), have been unable to appreciate 

 the difference between the two forms, while Dr. Moreau has remarked that this 

 so-called new species is precisely the form which is figured in Bonaparte's Fauna 

 Italica as Mugil chelo. 



Donovan's M. cephalus would seem from the length of the interspace between 

 its two dorsal fins, and the position of its anal as regards the second dorsal, to 

 belong to this species. It appears to me that Neill and Templeton have so 

 regarded it, which accounts for the former finding it occasionally in the 

 Moray Firth, where Parnell remarked that it was a singular fact that not a single 

 specimen had fallen under his notice. While this species is the common Irish 

 one, and was most probably the form which Templeton alluded to. 



Varieties. Mugil curtus, Yarrell, would seem to be a young example of this 

 species, in which the body was somewhat unnaturally shortened. Mullets are not 

 unfrequently deformed. Professor Giglioli last year obtained in Italy " a large 

 M. cephalus nearly as broad as long." 



Names. Lesser gray mullet, thick-lipped mullet. Le muge a grosses levres, 

 French. Be harder, Dutch. 



Habits. Very gregarious, frequenting harbours, mouths of rivers so far as the 

 tide extends, inlets of the sea, and but rarely enters deep waters. It seems to 

 delight in the most oozy parts of bays, and where the grass- wrack, Zostera marina, 



