SCT^NA. 55 



distinction of the fishes. Rondeletius informs us that the 

 fishmongers of Rome were of opinion that the fish known by 

 the name of Coracinus was a smaller size of the species which 

 they termed the Umbra, and that the fish Latus was the same 

 when it had reached its largest growth. Gesner, after quoting 

 this authority, goes on to say that the Umbrina, of which he 

 has given a characteristic figure, is the same with that to 

 which the French have assigned the name of Maigre, and in 

 this he is supported by the opinion of Lacepede, and which 

 name he supposes it to bear from the pale appearance of its 

 flesh, as if it were emaciated and bloodless. The Peis Rei or 

 Royal Fish he supposes to be the same with the Latus, 

 which he regards as not to be distinguished from the Umbra 

 and Coracinus, although he had said before that the Umbra 

 was furnished with a wart or tubercle on the chin, which the 

 Coracinus and Latus did not possess. This author also refers 

 to Rondeletius as assigning to the Umbra its characteristic 

 marks of oblique lines of golden and darker colour, which 

 are said not to belong to the Coracinus and Latus; and 

 there is no less a confounding of truth and error in the 

 writings of Willoughby and Ray as regards these fishes, of 

 which even Risso is not clear. 



It is by having recourse to the work of Lacepede, that 

 we are the more effectually assisted to find our way out of 

 this confusion, and to enable an observer to decide upon the 

 distinction of these fishes when again found wandering to our 

 shores. It is to be desired, however, that to avoid further 

 confusion, the name of Maigre ought not to have place among 

 the English names, for assuredly such a denomination must 

 be inappropriate for a fish that is generally robust, and adorned 

 with such resplendent colours as will not fail to attract the 

 admiration of an observer. As definite marks of difference 

 between this species and the Umbra, besides those diagonal 

 lines or shades which ornament the sides of the latter when 

 in its highest beauty, in the former the jaws are of equal 

 length, and without a tubercle or barb at the chin. Serrations 

 on the foremost of the gill-covers will usually be less distinct 

 in age, and they not unfrequently vanish in such a degree 

 as to shew how little we can depend on them for distinction 

 of this species when fully grown; but in its early growth, 



