MENDOLE. 207 



fish, and usually keeps near the land in places where sea- 

 weeds abound, feeding on them, as well as enjoying their 

 shelter, but not refusing to take a bait. Oppian says — 



"Close to green shores the watery natives feed, 

 That hide in wrack and bite the spiry weed. 

 Such food the Cackerels and the Goats approve." 



They were never held in reputation for the table, and 

 anciently were considered as food only for the lower orders 

 of society. Martial terms them "inutiles msenas," worthless 

 Mendoles; and another poet, describing a poor dinner-hunter, 

 represents him as disappointed in his search, and then returning 

 to satisfy his hunger on these fishes. Hence it was a proverb 

 at Rome that they only were indifferent to the pleasure of the 

 table who would as soon dine on a Mendole as a Sturgeon; 

 yet our countryman, Willoughby, represents them as agreeable 

 food: but the discrepancy is explained by Lacepede, who 

 says that when in their best condition they are not to be 

 despised, and that the females in full roe are delicious. The 

 principal use made of them in ancient times was as sauce for 

 other fishes, and this we learn to have been formed chiefly 

 from their entrails. 



Mr. Cock's description of the Cornish example is: — The 

 body oblong, compressed, and covered with large scales: the 

 mouth small and protractile; jaws with a narrow band of 

 minute fine-pointed teeth, densely packed together; a longitu- 

 dinal band of the same along the middle of the palate (the 

 vomer.) An elongated scale above each ventral fin, and one 

 between these fins. Eyes large. UjDper surface of the body 

 dark lead grey, with bright silvery sides and belly. The 

 length nine inches and a half, dejDth two inches and a 

 quarter. But the most remarkable circumstance that belongs 

 to this fish is its great diversity of colour in different places 

 and seasons. Lacepede says it is generally white, with blue 

 stripes along the side; a long dark sjDot on the side, above 

 the vent; the fins red: but the colours become more lively 

 in summer, and are generally so on the coast of Africa. 

 Willoughby describes the colour as pale green or dusky 

 yellow, with blue lines, and a large round dark blotch on 

 the side, with spots and lines running obliquely over the 



