UUSKV SKKRANUS. 



15 



ACANTHOPTERYGU. 



PERCID.i:. 





THE DUSKY SERRANUS. 



Serranus gigas, Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. ii. p. 270, pi. 33. 

 Perca robitsta, Couch, Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 21, fig. 7. 

 II gigas, Brunnicu and Gmklin. 



The third species of Serranus to be added to the British 

 catalogue, which, as before stated, was first made known as 

 occurring on our shore by Mr. Couch, is his Dusky Perch, 

 Perca robusta, which, from a careful comparison of descrip- 

 tions, appears to be identical with the Serranus gigas of 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes, above quoted, and the synonymes 

 have been brought together accordingly. 



This species inhabits the Mediterranean, and is also, but 

 less frequently, taken in the ocean. Among the islands of 

 its more congenial sea, this fish sometimes attains the weight 

 of sixty pounds, and this circumstance originally suggested 

 its specific name Gigas ; but specimens of ordinary occurrence 

 weigh only from ten pounds to twenty pounds, and the flesh is 

 in some estimation as food. The females deposit their spawn 

 in shallow water during the months of April and May. 



