and the Grey Mullet of the British Coast, 137 



tfiat of the grey mullet, and a good delineation. At the 

 same time, we may observe, it would answer equally well for 

 the queriman, (and doubtless for other species,) their resem- 

 blance being so exact : his description is partly applicable to 

 this and partly to M. cephalus ; the two species being evidently 

 confounded. — This, the common grey mullet, or M. britanni- 

 cus* and the queriman, are remarkably near species in shape, 

 size, and colour. The number of rays of tlie fins afford the 

 only well-marked difference, and in this respect they approach 

 very near : their disparity, however, with M. cephalus is 

 very evident on comparison with its description or assigned 

 characters.^ /o J)nfi aouHitqa-n hj <:ki»>*j.Hiv^ t>](|i 



I have since tOTTSuitecI tJie**'R^gwe Animar' of Cuvier, 

 and, from what I observe there stated, it appears probable 

 tiiere are other species besides these two confounded under the 

 same name. He says there are three species met with in the 

 Mediterranean, which resemble each other very much, one of 

 which is the M. Cephalus of Linnajus ; he also alludes to the 

 existence of athick carneous stomach, p. 292, tom. ii. (1st. ed.) 

 It is probable that this carneous or muscular structure of the 

 stomach is, in some measure, common to all the true species 

 of this genus. 



In Fleming's recent and valuable work, British Zoology, the 

 M. cephalus is likewise indicated as identical with the com- 

 mon mullet, with some alteration of the characters ; but if 

 Linnaeus's description be anything near correct, the mugil 

 cephalus and the common British mullet are two very distinct 

 species. In the Systema Naturaj, the rays of the fins stand 

 thus : — 



M. Cephalus""^ * lior^ 5— i, Pect. 16, Vent, j, Anal, /g, Caudal 12. 

 In the Br. mul. they ^e thus 4'— 8, 18, |, |, 20. 



Being favoured by the kindness of Mr. Wood, of the Strand, 

 with the loan of Willoughby's " Historia Piscium," I ob- 

 served that justly esteemed author has referred to certain in- 

 terior waters of France, as situations where the mullets are 

 caught, and describes the form of the trap, made of reeds, 

 ■ '••'♦', 



♦ It may be so called, I presiune, since it is the only one known or usually 

 caught on these shores. 



