74 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



their bodies ; the fishermen consider them a distinct species (see " Kolom- 

 batovic"). These are, however, apparently mere varieties of colouring, due to 

 the conditions of the beds they frequent, as fishes are known to assimilate 

 themselves in colour and otherwise to the surrounding circumstances (see 

 Giinther, " On the Variation of Colour — an Introduction to the Study of 

 Fishes," page 183). 



The family of Sea-breams {Sparides) furnishes twenty different species, 

 three of which are much valued for the excellence of their flesh. These are 

 the Gilt-head {Chrysophrys aurata 1 ), the red or Spanish Sea-bream (Pagelhis 

 erythrinus), and the Braize, or Becker {Pagrus vulgaris), which, together 

 with the basse, dentex, and red mullet, are the fishes which hold the fore- 

 most rank amongst the class of " prime," or Pesce nobile, a term whose 

 signification varies considerably according to locality, and is to a great extent 

 arbitrary as regards a number of fishes which are often included in the 

 denomination. The group Cantharina comprises three specimens of Can- 

 tharus, amongst which are the Black Sea-bream, a British species, which 

 is not uncommon in winter, and C. orbicularis, the best of the genus. 

 Box vulgaris is the better of the two Bogues, although neither are much 

 valued as food ; Oblata melanura is a better class of fish, as are also the 

 three more common species of Sargina. Charax ptmtazzo, known as Pesce 

 morti, on account of its stripes, is little valued. 



Of the group Pagrina, the Gilt-head is the most important. These fish are 

 caught with a line in summer, and in winter they are encircled by a net at 

 night-time and then pronged individually, artificial illumination being used to 

 keep them from effecting their escape underneath the net, as they are wont 



1 Aurata was the Latin name; and the Greeks called it Chrysophrys (i.e., "golden eye- 

 brow"), in allusion to the brilliant spot of gold which it bears between its eyes. According to 

 Columella, the Aurata was among the number of fishes brought up by the Romans in their 

 vivaria ; and the inventor of those vivaria, one Sergius Grata, is supposed to have derived his 

 name from this fish. It is said to grow extremely fat in artificial ponds. Duhamcl states that it 

 stirs up the sand with its tail, so as to discover the shell-fish concealed in it. It is extremely 

 fond of mussels, and its near presence is sometimes ascertained by the noise it makes in breaking 

 their shells with its teeth (see Giinther, " Introduction to the Study of Fishes," p. 409). 



