Mcgil. FISHES. ACANTHOPT. 217 



Eyes large ; irides purple. 1st D. 7, 2d D. 9 ; P. 16 ; V. 7 ; A. 8 ; C. 20.— 

 The tail is much forked. 



In reference to the Red Surmullet, M. barbatus, which for some time has 

 occupied a place in the British Fauna, it may be stated, that its claim rests 

 on the following vague remark of Mr Pennant. M We have heard of this 

 species being taken on the coast of Scotland, but had no opportunity of exa- 

 mining it ; and, whether it is found on the west of England with the other 

 species, or variety, we are not at this time informed." — Brit. Zool. iii. 273. 

 No notice, however, is taken of this fish in the list of Scottish animals pre- 

 fixed to Lightfoot's Flora Scotica, and composed by Mr Pennant. 



Gen. LXXX. MUGIL. Mullet. — Suborbitals denticulat- 

 ed on the margin. Middle of the under jaw with a ridge, 

 with a corresponding groove in the upper. Gill-flap of 6 

 rays. 



159- M. Cephalus. Common Mullet. — Sides with broad 

 longitudinal lines on a silvery ground. 



Will. Ich. 274. Linn. Syst. i. 520. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 329. Don. 

 Brit. Fishes, t. 15 In the sea and estuaries. 



Length upwards of 18 inches. Back dusky ; belly silvery. Irides dusky. 

 Vomer, palatines, and tongue, with small teeth. 1st D. 4 (with large scales 

 at the base), 2d D. 9 ; P. 17 ; V. \ (with a triangular process on each side, and 

 one in the middle) ; A. §. Tail forked ; peritoneum black. When enclosed 

 in a net they endeavour to effect their escape by leaping over the edges, 

 which they do with great agility. 



Gen. LXXXI. ATHERINA.— Jaws protrusile. Cheeks 

 with scales. 



160. A. Hepsctus. Atherine. — Side with a silvery longitu- 

 dinal stripe : margin of the dorsal scales with black dots. 



Pisciculus anguella, Will. Ich. 209 — A. Hep. Linn. Syst. i. 519. Penn. 

 Brit. Brit. Zool. iii. 318. Don. Brit. Fishes, t. 87 — E. Smelt, Melet. 

 — In the sea and estuaries. 



Length 5 inches. Body, above, yellowish-brown, silver}' beneath ; pellu- 

 cid. Head broad, depressed, with a mesial ridge. 1st D. 8, 2d D. 11 ; P. 13; 

 V. 6 ; A. 14-17 ; C. 15. Spawns in June. 



Gen. LXXXII. SCOMBER. Mackerel.— Posterior por- 

 tions of the second dorsal and anal fins subdivided into 

 spurious finlets. 



161. S. vulgaris. Common Mackerel.— Five spurious fins 



above and below. Second dorsal and anal fins triangular. 



S. Merr. Pin. 187- Sibb. Scot. 24. Will. Ich. 181 — S. Scomber, Linn. 

 Syst. i. 492. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 264. Don. Brit. Fishes, t. 120.— 

 British Seas common. 



Length 15 inches. Body compressed, angular and slender towards the 

 tail; bluish green above, with dark transverse bands ; beneath silvery. 1st 



