Sparus. FISHES. ACANTHOPT. 211 



expanded, at the origin, obscure in its progress towards the tail ; no lateral 

 line ; a broad band from eye to eye ; the colour blue, deeper on the back 

 than on the belly ; covered with large scales, as well the body as the fins, so 

 that the dorsals and anals seem like an extension of the body. I was unable 

 to count the ravs of the dorsal fins." Lin. Trans, xiv. 78. 



Gen. LXVII. SPARUS. Gilthead.— Four or six teeth in 

 each jaw, in one row ; the rest of the jaws paved with 

 large round teeth, with blunt summits. 



136. S. aurata. — Between the eyes a semilunar gold-coloured 



spot. 



Aurata Rondeletii, Will. Ich. 307 — S. aur. Linn. Syst. i. 467- Penn. 



Brit. Zool. iii. 240. Don. Brit. Fishes, t. lxxxix Near bold rocky 



shores Not common. 



Length upwards of 18 inches. Back dusky-green, belly silvery ; a black 

 spot at the origin of the lateral line, and another on the gill-cover. Body 

 thickest over the pectoral fin. Posterior nostril ovate, oblique, and near the 

 eye. D. ai, P. 15, V. a, a. T 3 f . Six conical teeth in each jaw produced. 

 Inner arch of the gills with short round processes, rough on the surface. 

 Stomach with three caeca. — This species seems to be more frequent on the 

 southern shores than to the north. I have seen it once caught in the estuary 

 of the Tay, in August. 



Gen. LXVIII. PAGRUS. Braize.— Teeth in front, nume- 

 rous, in several rows. 



137. P. vulgaris. Common Braize. — Body red ; divisions 

 of the tail equal. 



P. Rondeletii, Will. Ich. 312 — Sparus Pagrus, Linn. Syst. i. 469. Penn. 



Brit. Zool. iii. 242 — E, Becker, Sea-Bream ; S, Braize Common on 



south coast of England and west of Scotland. 



Length about 18 inches. A dark spot at the base of the pectorals. D. a§, 

 P. 16, V. a, A. T 2 5 . Irides silvery ; mouth red within. 



138. P. lineatus. — Dusky blue, with pale longitudinal lines ; 

 upper division of the tail largest. 



Sparus lin. Mont. "VVern. Mem. ii. 451. t. xxii Coast of Devon. 



Length about 15 inches. Body more compressed and arched, and the fins 

 broader, and the eye smaller than in the preceding. Irides dusky and sil- 

 very. This species is taken near the shore by hook or net, along with the 

 preceding, in considerable abundance — This is probablv the species to which 

 Mr Couch refers, under the title Spams Velula, or Old Wife, (Lin. Trans, xiv. 

 79. and of which he gives the following description : — " The body is deep, 

 compressed, and has a considerable resemblance to the S. Pagrus (P. vulgaris) ; 

 the lips are fleshy, and the jaws furnished with a pavement of teeth, of which 

 those in front are the longest ; the gill membrane has five rays ; the gill-covers 

 and body are covered with large scales. The ten first rays of the dorsal fin 

 are spinous ; the anal fin also has four spinous rays, after which it becomes 

 more expanded ; the tail is concave. — This fish has a membranous septum 

 across the palate, as in the Wrasse genus. When in high season the colour 

 behind the head is a fine green, towards the tail it is a reddish orange. The 



