GEN. PAGELLUS. THE SEA-BREAM. 179 



four to six inches long, they abound, says Mr. Yar- 

 rell, in innumerable multitudes, and are taken by 

 anglers in harbours and from rocks, for they bite 

 with great eagerness at any bait : they devour also 

 sea-weeds and shell-fish. The Sea-bream, accord- 

 ing to Cuvier and Yalenciennes, is fort lonne, 

 (vi. 141) ; according to Mr. Couch, it is not highly 

 esteemed for the table, and is not at all in request 

 when salted ; hence when abundant, says he, I have 

 known it sold at so low a rate as two shillings and 

 sixpence the hundred weight. Curious there should 

 be so wide a difference on the opposite sides of the 

 Channel r Something may depend upon the season; 

 and to compensate for our more fastidious taste, Mr. 

 Yarrell has supplied the following recipe, as ma- 

 terially improving the ordinary flavour of this fish. 

 When thoroughly cleaned, wipe the fish dry with- 

 out removing any of the scales : then broil, turning 

 often, and if the skin cracks, flour it a little to keep 

 the outer skin entire. When brought to table, the 

 whole skin and scales turn off without difficulty ; 

 the flesh underneath will be found of good flavour. 



Gen. XIX. Dentax. — This genus consists of 

 fishes of the Sea-bream family which have long 

 conical teeth in both jaws, usually in a single row, 

 with some of the anterior elongated like sharp and 

 powerful canines. Two species are known in the 

 ^Mediterranean, and more in southern seas. The one 

 we are about to mention is valued in Dalmatia and 

 the Levant as a wholesome and palatable food when 



