154 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MUGILID^. 



or lunate. The stomach terminates in a fleshy- 

 gizzard, resembling that of a bird. 



The Mullets, according to the Prince of Ca- 

 nino's recent conspectus, amount to eighty known 

 species ; but if we include the Atherines, or Sand- 

 Smelts, which Cuvier and Yarrell unite with this 

 group, but of which the Roman zoologist consti- 

 tutes a separate Family, — we shall have fifty 

 more species. They are widely scattered over 

 the globe, inhabiting both fresh and salt waters. 

 The European species are gregarious, haunting 

 the coasts in large shoals, entering the mouths 

 of rivers at certain seasons, and periodically re- 

 turning to the sea. Experiments, however, have 

 proved that they will not only live but thrive, 

 when confined to fresh water. Mr. Arnold of 

 Guernsey, having a lake of fresh-water about 

 three acres in extent, put into it marine fishes of 

 various species for trial, among which was the 

 Grey Mullet. Selecting a number of the fry, 

 of about a finger's length, he transferred them 

 to the pond, and found, after a few years, that 

 the Mullet were the most improved of all the 

 sea-fishes that he had introduced. Specimens of 

 these, weighing four pounds, were taken from 

 the pond, and proved fatter, deeper, and heavier, 

 than others of similar length which were taken 

 in the sea. 



The Mountain Mullet (Mugil monticola) of 

 Jamaica, and another species that inhabits the 

 fresh-water streams of that island, are found in 

 situations which almost preclude the supposition 

 of their ever visiting the sea. 



It is commonly believed that the Mullet is not 

 a carnivorous fish, but that it confines itself to 



