142 OEIGIN OF TEEM ANGliL Fli-U. 



uncommon at Brighton and Hastings. The name angel- 

 fish is given them on account of the fins on each side 

 of the body, which are very large and very flexible. I 

 expect the name angel was given in old Roman Catholic 

 times, as its wings somewhat resemble the wings of an 

 angel, as we see rexu*esented by old masters in pictm-es 

 or glass windows of foreign cathedrals and churches. 

 Mr. Searle made a cast of this grand fish for the museum, 

 where I have also another specimen, but not so big. 



MULLET RED AND GRAY- 



AeanthopterL Mugilidee. 



(Mugilidce and Gobioida.) 



Mullets [Mu/jil capito). These fish are not fre- 

 quently captm'ed in the deep sea, but are fishes of the 

 shore, seeking shallow creeks, where they have been cap- 

 tm'ed in vast quantities. They have scarcely any ofien- 

 sive weapons : their teeth being small and delicate, often 

 almost imperceptible ; and hence, notv/ithstanding their 

 size, they can scarcely attack any other fish, though 



GREY MULLET {Mugil caplto). 



m 



liable to the assaults of many enemies. They are, how- 

 ever, gifted with a remarkable instinct, whichaids them 

 in their efforts to escape danger. 



Only three species are known as British , of which the 

 Grey Mullet is the most common. Tiie usual size of 



