APOGON REX MULLORUM. 151 



When fresh, or yet uncooked, this fish has a peculiar mouse-like odour, 

 resembling that also of the common Hounds-tongue iCynoglossum 

 officinale, L.). Risso speaks of its excellence for eating; a remark which 

 MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes on his authority repeat. In Madeira it 

 has the same character with the fishermen, though it is scarcely cooked 

 except by accident. 



The average length of this diminutive monarch of the Mullets is three 

 or four inches. Risso speaks of nearly five, and MM. Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes of six inches, as the extreme length of the Mediterranean fish ; but 

 in Madeira I have not observed it to exceed four and a quarter. In 

 colour, in the deciduous large scales, and, above all, in the shape and sepa- 

 ration of the two dorsal fins, it has sufficient general resemblance to the 

 Red Mullets to account for the reference expressed in some of its ver- 

 nacular titles : but this relation systematically is evidently, as Wil- 

 lughby acutely first remarked, one only of analogy.* In its more 

 essential characters, both outward and internal, it agrees with the Per- 

 cid<s. 



Its scientific name Apogon is derived from an obvious character of 

 difference when viewed in contrast with the Mullets ; being formed of 

 the privative a, and xajyajv, a beard. 



Though by no means elegantly shaped, this is a peculiarly frail 

 or delicate fish, both to the eye and touch : the flesh being at once 

 almost transparent, and singularly soft or flexible; exposing by collapse 

 the arrangement of the ribs and muscles on the outer surface of the 

 sides, in oblique lines or forks, diverging from the lateral line. 



The shape of the fore-part of the body, cutting off the tail, is oblong-oval or 

 elliptic, suddenly contracting at the end of the second dorsal and the anal fins to 

 one half the depth of the body forwarder. The fleshy part of the tail, beginning 

 from this point, is considerably produced, and of nearly equal depth ; or oblong, 

 w^ith the dorsal and ventral outlines almost parallel : those of the elliptic fore-part 

 of the body being of moderate and nearly equal curvature. Both the depth and 

 thickness are considerable in proportion to the general dimensions : the foraier^ 

 greatest from the origin of the first to that of the second dorsal fin, being from one 

 third to one third and a half of the whole length ; and the thickness close behind 

 the eyes, equalling one half of the depth, or one sixth of the whole length. Still 

 the whole fish is compressed. The profile descends gradually in a straight line 

 from the origin of the first dorsal fin to the tip of the muzzle. The length of the 

 head equals the gi'eatest depth : it is broad and flattened at the top, with a slight 

 central ridge. The space between the eyes is very wide, and nearly equals their 

 diameter, which is about one third of the length of the head. Their orbits are 

 nearly circular, and quite plain or entire, and unarmed ; but raised and prominent 



* " Quantum memini, capitis figura cum MuUo non convenit : barbulis autem caret. Veram cum 

 piscatores MuUorum regem eum appellaverint, plurimisque accidentibus cum MuUis conveniat, ut 

 descriptiones utiiusque conferenti patebit, rectius me judice MuUus imherbis dicetur quam is quem 

 Rondeletius sub eo titulo exhibet, cuculis congener, nee quicquam fere prseter colorem cum Mullis 

 commune obtinens." 



M 2 



