Class IV. G I L T - H E A D. *4* 



They are but a coarfe fifh ; nor did the Ro- 

 mans hold them in any efteem, except they had fed 

 on the Lucrine oyfter. 



Non omnis laudem pretiumque Aurata meretur^ 

 Scd cui/olus erit concha Lucrina cibus *. 



No praife, no price a GHt+head e'er will take, 

 Unfed with oyflers of the Lucrine lake. 



They grow to the weight of ten pounds: the Bescrip, 

 form of the body is deep, not unlike that of a 

 bream : the back is very iharp, and of a dufky 

 green color : the irides of a filvery hue : between 

 the eyes is a femilunar gold colored fpot, the horns 

 of which point towards the head : on the upper 

 part of the gills is a black fpot, beneath that a- 

 nother of purple. 



Thedorfaifin extends almoft the whole length 

 of the back, and confifts of twenty-four rays, the 

 eleven firft fpiny, the others foft : the pe&oral fins 

 confift of feventeen foft rays ; the ventral of fix 

 rays, the firft of which is very ftrong and fpiny: 

 the anal fin of fourteen ; the three firft fpiny. 



The tail is much forked. 



It takes its name from its predominant color; Color* 

 that of the forehead and fides being as if gilt, but 

 the laft is tinged with brown. 



* Martial. Lib. XIII. Ep. 90. 



R Pagur* 



