98 ACANTHOPTERYGII. SPARID^. 



appearance, their sides presenting the likeness of 

 silver and burnished steel, in which are imbedded 

 longitudinal parallel bands of gold. 



Genus Pagellus. (Cuv.) 



The present Genus belongs to the first of the 

 sub-families, mentioned above. It is charac- 

 terized by the teeth in the front half of the jaws 

 being numerous, close-set, slender, and pointed; 

 those in the rear being rounded molars, disposed in 

 two or three rows, those of the outer row the most 

 powerful. There is but a single dorsal fin, which 

 is lengthened, and composed of both spinous and 

 flexible rays ; the pectorals are pointed ; the 

 cheeks and gill-covers are covered with scales ; 

 the form is deeper than thick ; the outline of 

 both the belly and the back is rounded. 



The species of the genus Pagellus are common 

 in the Mediterranean, and on the shores of the 

 Atlantic, as far north as Denmark, beyond which 

 they appear to be unknown. Three are found 

 on our own coasts, two of which are rare and 

 accidental visitants, and one is a common fish. 



The Common Sea-Bream {Pagellus centrodon- 

 tus, Cuv.) is about a foot and a half long, six 

 inches deep, and two and a half inches thick ; its 

 form is much compressed, its outline both above 

 and below gracefully swelling. The eye is enor- 

 mous, and this gives it a peculiar appearance ; the 

 wide iris is golden or silvery. The hue of the 

 upper parts is reddish-grey, the sides and belly 

 pearly, with faint blue stripes running longitudi- 

 nally. The dorsal and anal fins are strong and 

 spinous:, and are lodged in a singular groove ; they 



