156 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. MUGILID^. 



liarities in the development of the bones of the 

 head and face. The former is the most familiar 

 species on the south and east coasts of England, 

 the latter on the shores of Scotland and the north 



GREY MULLET. 



of Ireland. At certain seasons, however, as in 

 the months of September and October, Dr. Par- 

 nell has observed M. chelo in great abundance on 

 the Devonshire coast. Both are common in the 

 Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. 



The Common English Mullet attains a length 

 of eighteen or twenty inches, of which the head 

 is nearly one fourth. The colour of the body 

 is bluish-grey on the upper part, silvery white on 

 the sides, marked with longitudinal dusky lines ; 

 pure white on the belly ; the membranes of the 

 fins are pellucid- white. The caudal fin is both 

 long and wide. 



The habits of this interesting fish have been 

 minutely described by Mr. Couch, and we shall 

 take the liberty of quoting them at length from 

 Mr. Yarrell's ' excellent " History of British 

 Fishes." 



