us 



CHRYSOPHEYS. 



With round molar teeth on the sides of the jaw, Ibruiing three rows 

 in the upperj a few conical teeth in front. 



GILTHEAD. 



Aurata, Jonston; Tab. 16, f. 2. 



WiLLOUGiiBY; p. 307, Tab. v. 5. 



Sparus aurata, Linn^us. Fleming; Br. An., p. 211. 



" " Jenyns; Mamial, p. 353. 



Spare Dorade, Lacepede. Risso. 



Chrysophrys aurata, Cuvier. Yakkell; Br. F., vol. i, p. 111. 



This fisli is ^cll known in the Mediterranean, and it 

 appears from Pliny and Columella that it was held in much 

 esteem for the tables of ancient Rome, for the supply of which 

 it was kept in ponds, and fed with oysters to give it a better 

 appearance and flavour; and in INIartial's opinion it was only 

 when thus fed that it became worthy of notice: 



"Non omnis laudeni pretiumqnc Aurata meretur; 

 Sed cui solus erit concha Lucrina cibus." 



Xenia. 



The Gilthcad only shall my jjraisc partake 

 When fed with, shell-fish from the Lucrino lake. 



And shell-fish, with crabs, were supposed to be its chief or 

 only food in its free condition, the solid structure of its teeth 

 being well fitted to crush them in such a way as to be fit 

 for digestion. 



The Gilthead does not often wander so far north as the 



British Islands, although examples have been met with in 



Cornwall and Devonshire, and Dr. Fleming obtained one so 



far north as the mouth of the liiver Tay, in Scotland. Mr. 



VOL. I. 2 M 



