THE MULLUS BARBATUS. 22] 



ORDER— THORACICI. 

 GENUS.— MULLUS. 



SPECIES.-MULLUS BARBATUS, 



on 



THE COMMON RED SURMULLET.* 



The red Surmullet is principally found in the Mediterranean 

 and Northern Seas, and one of Captain Scoresby's seamen 

 took one out of the mouth of a seal near Spitzbergen : the 

 body was about twelve inches; however its extreme length 

 is generally about fifteen inches. Its colour is of an ele- 

 gant rose red, tinged with olive-colour on the back, and of 

 a silvery cast towards the abomen ; the scales are thin, and 

 easily rubbed off, the skin itself appearing of a brighter 

 red. The surmullet is a fish of a strong and active nature, 

 swimming briskly, and feeding principally on the smaller 

 fishes, worms, and sea insects. 



This fish was highly esteemed by the Romans, and bore 

 in consequence an exceedingly high price. When boiled it 

 constitutes an excellent dish. The capricious epicures of the 

 time of Horacef valued it in proportion to its size ; not that 

 the larger were more delicious, but more difficult to pro- 

 cure. The price that was given for one in the time of 



* Svnonyme. — Mullus Ruber, t Juvenal Sat. iv. 48/. 8s. 9d. 



q2 



