98 



SPARID.E. 



of parts of our southern coast, — Colonel Montagu having 

 examined two specimens taken at Torcross in 1802 ; and 

 it is probably found occasionally at the Channel Islands. 

 This fish is rare on the coast of Holland ; but Dr. Flem- 

 ing has recorded having seen one specimen caught in the 

 estuary of the Tay in the month of August. It does 

 not appear, however, to proceed so far north as some other 

 species of the same family, and is not included in the 

 Fauna of Fabricius or Muller. Duhamel has remarked 

 of the species of Chjysophri/s, that they are averse to 

 cold, and that numbers perished in the severe winter 

 of 1766. 



The species of Chrysophrys, — so called by the Greeks 

 on account of their golden-coloured eyebrows, from whence 

 also the names of aurata, dorade^ and Gilt-head, have arisen, 

 — like most of the Sparida, frequent deep water on bold 

 rocky shores, from whence they are occasionally drawn 

 by lines or nets. They are said to spawn in summer ; 

 and their food consists of molluscous and testaceous animals, 

 which their rounded teeth and strong jaws enable them to 



