112 



SI'AIUD.E. 



tation of it in his -work, and whose English name for it is 

 here adopted. 



As a Mediterranean species it is exceedingly well known ; 

 and there is little doubt this fish was the Dentex of the 

 Romans. It is remarkable for the great length of the 

 four anterior teeth in each jaw ; and a second species of 

 the same genus, as now^ restricted — also a native of the 

 Mediterranean — was from this peculiar character called Ci/no- 

 don (Dog's-teeth). 



The Four-toothed Sparus acquires a large size, sometimes 

 three feet in length, and weighing from twenty to thirty 

 pounds : Duhamel, on the authority of Gortier, mentions 

 one instance of a Dentex that weighed no less than seventy 

 pounds. They appear to be much more rare in the ocean, 

 as well as smaller in size. The fish recorded by Mr. Dono- 

 van weighed sixteen pounds. 



" A more voracious fish,'" says the same writer, "is 

 scarcely known ; and when we consider its ferocious incli- 

 nation, and the strength of its formidable canine teeth, we 

 must be fully sensible of the great ability it possesses in 

 attacking other fishes, even of superior size, with advantage. 

 It is asserted, that when taken in the fishermen's nets, 

 it will seize upon the other fishes taken with it, and mangle 

 them dreadfully. Being a swift swimmer, it finds abundant 

 prey, and soon attains to a considerable size. AVillughby 

 observes, that small fishes of this species are rarely taken ; 

 and the same circumstance has been mentioned by later 

 writers. During the winter it prefers deep waters ; but in 

 the spring, or about May, it qiiits this retreat, and approaches 

 the entrance of great rivers, where it deposits its spawn be- 

 tween the crevices of stones and rocks. 



" The fisheries for this kind of Sparus are carried on upon 

 an extensive scale in the warmer parts of iMirope. In the 



