SEA-BREAMS. 99 



are brownish ; the pectorals, ventrals, and caudal 

 are pale red. There is a blackish spot at the 

 commencement of the lateral line. The sides of 



^ 



SEA-BREAM. 



the head gleam in parts like frosted silver, or like 

 the back of a looking-glass newly silvered. 



The scales (see the engraving on the follow- 

 ing page) generally approach, more or less 

 nearly, to a square form, slightly bulging at the 

 sides ; the front, or attached end, scalloped at 

 the edge, and waved in a radiating manner : the 

 hinder, or free end, marked with a number of 

 minute flexible points lying one over the other, 

 most numerous on the scales of the belly. Those 

 of the lateral line have the mucus-tube short but 

 wide. «, represents a scale from the back; 6, 

 one from the lateral line ; c, one from the belly. 

 The silvery pigment beneath the scales does not 

 come off with the latter when these are detached. 



