and the Grey Mullet of the British Coast. 127 



about, and successively deposited in banks, — forming indeed 

 the alluvial soil of the European settlements, and one of the 

 most inexhaustible and fertile soils in the world. 



In the Trench mullet, Mugil incilis, as we may designate 

 this species, (being chiefly found in the trenches or ditches 

 dug for draining the flat lands of the coast of Guiana), the 

 scales are small, — the anal fin has twelve rays ; grows to eight 

 or ten inches in length ; is of a lighter colour than the queri- 

 man, but othenvise differs very little from a young queriman of 

 the same size ; the structure of the stomach is also the same, 

 being a sort of gizzard. 



Like the latter fish, it lives entirely by suction. It delights 

 in water that is slightly brackish ; and although it is often 

 found on the coast, yet a sudden immersion in sea-water soon 

 kills it. I once observed, at Cape Batave, (the property of 

 Mr. Gilgeous) on the west coast of Essequibo, great numbers 

 of mullets swimming with their heads, or snouts, out of the 

 water. On inquiry, I found that the front dam had given way 

 in the night, from a high spring tide, and nearly filled the 

 trenches with salt water. 



It appears extraordinary that this fish, although it constantly 

 inhabits the fresh-water trenches, is never found (not to my 

 knowledge at least) in the natural pools or rivulets of fresh 

 water ; and I am not certain whether it is ever found in the 

 proper salt water of the ocean, — for the water of the coast is 

 seldom very salt, owing to the abundance of water brought down 

 by the great rivers from the interior ; it appears, indeed, like 

 a sort of voluntary domestication, not like those shut up in 

 ponds ; this is not common in respect to fishes, or other 

 animals, although there are many plants which make their 

 appearance in certain places, only after the soil has been put 

 under cultivation. 



It is rather singular, too, that this small species should obtain 

 the name of mullet amongst the English colonists, in prefer- 

 ence to the queriman, which resembles much more correctly 

 the British mullet. 



Both species are very excellent viands, and constitute ar- 

 ticles of essential importance as food in Guiana, both fresh 

 and smoked. 



