6 



MUGlL 



The body stout, compressed at the sides, covered with large firm 

 scales. Head arched across; the mouth wide, with a narrow gape; the 

 lips fleshy; teeth exceedingly fine; middle of the lower jaw bent up 

 and received into a recess of the upper. Dorsal fins two, separate, 

 the first with a few spinous rays. Ventral fins abdominal. 



As the close inquiries of Dr. Gunther into the several species of this 

 family of Mullets appear to shew that there is a larger number of 

 sorts on our coasts than naturalists have hitherto supposed, it will 

 require on the part of an observer no small amoiuit of discrimination 

 to come to a conclusion concerning the examples which may come in 

 his way; and any inquiry on the subject, to be satisfactory, will demand 

 that any doubtful example shall be fresh from the water, or, if that be 

 impossible, the specimens must have been preserved in a better manner 

 than is usual with fishes. Our history and description of those Mullets 

 will comprise, in the first place, those kinds with which we are 

 acquainted, and after this we shall have recourse to that information 

 with which the kindness of Dr. Gunther has supplied us, in assigning 

 those distinguishing marks by which these little-known species may be 

 recognised. The habits of these obscurer kinds, so far as they may 

 differ from the others, are still unknown. 



These fishes are frequently called by the name of Grey Mullets, to 

 distinguish them from the lied or Surmullets, from which they difler 

 in almost every characteristic of forin, colour, and habits. 



GEEY MULLET. 



GREAT MULLET. MULLET. 



Mtirjll, JONSTON; pi. 23. 



" WiLLouGHBY; p. 274, table E,. 3. 



Miujil ceplialus, Donovan; pi. 15. 



" cainto, CuviER. 



" cephahis, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 217. 



" capito, Jenyns; Manual, p. 374. 



Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 234. 



Guntheb; Cat. Br. M., vol. iii, p. 439. 



