128 SPARID.K. 



Fishes, who has given a good representation of it in his work, 

 and whose English name for it is here adopted. 



As a Mediterranean species it is exceedingly well known ; 

 and there is little doubt this fish was the Dentex of the 

 Romans. It is remarkable for the great length of the four 

 anterior teeth in each jaw ; and a second species of the 

 same genus, as now restricted also a native of the Medi- 

 terranean was from this peculiar character called Cynodori 

 (Dog's-teeth). 



The Four-toothed Spams acquires a large size, sometimes 

 three feet in length, and weighing from twenty to thirty 

 pounds : Duhamel, on the authority of Gortier, mentions 

 one instance of a Dentex that weighed no less than seventy 

 pounds. They appear to be much more rare in the ocean, 

 as well as smaller in size. The fish recorded by Mr. Dono- 

 van weighed sixteen pounds. 



" A more voracious fish," says the same writer, " is 

 scarcely known ; and when we consider its ferocious incli- 

 nation, and the strength of its formidable canine teeth, we 

 must be fully sensible of the great ability it possesses in 

 attacking other fishes, even of superior size, with advantage. 

 It is asserted, that when taken in the fishermen's nets, it will 

 seize upon the other fishes taken with it, and mangle them 

 dreadfully. Being a swift swimmer, it finds abundant prey, 

 and soon attains to a considerable size. Willughby observes, 

 that small fishes of this species are rarely taken ; and the 

 same circumstance has been mentioned by later writers. 

 During the winter it prefers deep waters ; but in the spring, 

 or about May, it quits this retreat, and approaches the en- 

 trance of great rivers, where it deposits its spawn between the 

 crevices of stones and rocks. 



" The fisheries for this kind of Sparus are carried on upon 

 an extensive scale in the warmer parts of Europe. In the 

 estuaries of Dalmatia and the Levant, the capture of this fish 



