243 



CHRYSOPHRYS. 



With round molar teeth on the sides of the jaw, forming three rows 

 in the upper; a few conical teeth in front. 



GILTHEAD. 



Aurata, Jonston; Tab. 16, f. 2. 



WiLLOUGHBY; p. 307, Tab. v. 5. 

 Sparus aurata, Linn^us. Fleming; Br. An., p. 211. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 353. 



Spare Doracle, Lacepede. Risso. 



Chrysophrys aurata, Cuvier. Yarkell; Br. F., vol. i, p. 111. 



This fish is well known in the Mediterranean, and it 

 appears from Pliny and Columella that it was held in much 

 esteem for the tables of ancient Rome, for the supply of which 

 it was kept in ponds, and fed with oysters to give it a better 

 appearance and flavour; and in Martial's opinion it was only 

 when thus fed that it became worthy of notice: — 



"Non omnis laudem pretiumque Aurata meretur; 

 Sed cui solus erit concha Lucrina cibus." 



Xenia. 



The Gilthead only shall my praise partake 

 When fed with shell-fish from the Lucrine lake. 



And shell-fish, with crabs, were supposed to be its chief or 

 only food in its free condition, the solid structure of its teeth 

 being well fitted to crush them in such a way as to be fit 

 for digestion. 



The Gilthead does not often wander so far north as the 



British Islands, although examj^les have been met with in 



Cornwall and Devonshire, and Dr. Fleming obtained one so 



far north as the mouth of the River Tay, in Scotland. Mr. 



VOL. I. 2 M 



