MUGIL AURATUS. 165 



majestic sweep the lofty cliffs and iron-bound shores of one half of 

 the north coast of the island, the lesser pools and branches of these 

 channels abounded exclusively with the fry of this species. These were 

 from two to five or six inches long ; and, swimming in shoals, were taken 

 by a hoop-net placed in the seaward outlet of the pools or channels. 

 They were not only wonderfully swift and active, but extremely wary^ 

 vigilant, and cunning : rushing immediately, upon the slightest disturbance, 

 towards the seaward entrance ; which it is therefore necessary to approach 

 and close with haste and caution in the first instance ; and then the 

 whole shoal is driven from above, and generally inclosed at once within 

 the net. Amidst a large supply thus taken, there did not occur a single 

 M. corrugatus. 



On the other hand, at Machico on the south coast, towards the east 

 end of the island, during the two following months, the fry of both 

 species occurred simultaneously * in about equal proportion and pro- 

 fusion. These were taken indifferently by hook and line, or by a small 

 net worked at night upon the open beach, and for a hundred yards up 

 the river in pure fresh water. 



This evidence is merely negative orl either hand as to the adult full- 

 sized fish ; yet, taken in connexion with its rarity in the market at 

 Funchal, it appears to warrant the conclusion, that the present species 

 has a greater predilection for the north coast than the common Tainha 

 (J/, corrugatus). 



From the various names of " Cefalo dalla garza cToro'''' (garza sig- 

 nifying operclc), " Cefalo chiaro " or " rigato,'''' " Muggine ori-frangio^''' 

 " Badigia cToro^'' and " Musano daW oro,'''' which MM. Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes mention as the vernacular names of the M. aurattis of 

 Risso in different parts of the Mediterranean, this fish appears to be, 

 as in Madeira, perfectly distinguished from the other sorts. Hence it 

 is probably one of the four kinds intended by Rondelet : and, though any 

 peculiar abundance of mucosity is not observable in the Madeiran fish, its 

 straighter back, and shorter or blunter muzzle, would determine, inde- 

 pendently of MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes'* similar decision with respect 

 to the Mediterranean M. auratus, its reference to his Myxon rather 

 than to his Cestreus ; the latter being supposed by MM. Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes to be the M. saliens of Risso. Its identity with Aris- 

 totle's u,vt,cov is even still more problematical. However, as to any 

 difficulty on this head, founded upon Hicesius' postponement of his 

 f/jV^Tvog in point of gastronomic excellence to the Ki(pccXog or KZGT^zvg 



* It is not meant to be asserted that the two sorts did not keep in separate shoals. At Mag- 

 dalena, also on the south coast, live leagues to the west of Funchal, both sorts were taken with a 

 cast-net off the rocks at the same time ; but separately, three or four of each together, not inter- 

 mingled in the same haul. 



VOL. I. N 



