BLACK SEA-BKKAM. 



55 



The fona of budy of the IJliick Sea-Bream is one of 

 the most typical and regular in the fainii\-. The curves 

 of the back, wiiich is sharph- compressed, and of the 

 belly, which is flatly rounded as far back as the anal 

 tin, are almost eipial. The ('\-c is of average size, and 

 the snout proportional, neither excessively high, nor too 

 low. In the specimen we iiave examined, kindlv lent 

 l)y the rniversitA' Museum of Christiania, the length 

 of the l)ody, from the snout to the end of the middle 

 rays of the caudal tin, is 80 cm., the greatest depth 

 8(i % of the length, and the greatest thickness, mea- 

 sured on al)out a level with tiic insertion of the pec- 

 toral tins and half-way along them, is 38 % of the 

 greatest depth. The least depth of the l)ody (that of 

 the tail) is 26 ?^ of the greatest flej^th or 9.3 % of the 

 length, of which the length of the iiead forms 24.8 %. 

 The vertical and horizontal diameters of the eye are 

 equal and measure 22.4 % of the length of the head or 

 "'3 of tlie breadth of the convex interorbital space 

 at the middle of the eyes. The breadth of this 

 space, as well as the length of the lower jaw, is about 

 ecpial to ' .5 of the length of the head. 



When the dorsal or the anal fin is depressed, the 

 spinous-rayed part is completely hidden in the fin- 

 groove. According to Steindachner (1. c.) the caudal 

 fill is covered with scales right out to the hind margin. 

 ( )n tlie dorsal and anal fins I can find no trace of 

 scales. On the cheek there are 5 rows of scales, and in 

 addition to these, at the lower posterior angle, two 

 scales, so that counting from these there are 6 ro'ws. 

 On the operculum 9 ro\vs of scales. In a transverse 

 line straight u]) from the insertion of the ventral fins 

 there are 18 scales below the lateral line and 8 above 

 it, more anteriorly the latter are more numerous. The 

 scales are covered with fine, pointed granules in radi- 

 ating lines, the outermost granules becoming pointed 

 teeth or fine bristles at the margin of the scale. The 

 posterior dorsal branch in the system of the lateral line 

 on the liead (the posttemporal branch) is naked (without 



scales) anteriorly, and bounded posteriorly by 12 scales 

 {squamce super scapular es, Val. et Bonap.), above which 

 the lateral outlets of the canal spread out like the 

 fingers ol a hand. The anterior dorsal branch is situated 

 at the limit of the scales on the head (occiput). In 

 the scales of the lateral line; the duct is branched 

 ?> or sometimes .') times, so that above and below 

 the large (middle)pore thei'e appear (jue or two lateral 

 pores". 



For information on othei- points we mav refer to 

 the figure. 



The colouiMng of the Black Sea-Bream is very vari- 

 able, and is thus described by Day'': '"gray, becoming 

 lighter and dashed with gold on the sides and beneath: 

 forehead and cheeks pui'plish. Below the lateral line are 

 3 or 4 parallel, or sometimes irregularly horizontal 

 golden bands, along the body. Dor.sal fin dark, with 

 2 or 3 nearly black bands composed of spots. Pectoral, 

 caudal and anal straw-coloured. Caudal gray-edged, 

 margined externally with \\'hite: some bands of spots 

 along the anal. Ventral slate-colour along the centre, 

 with light or even white edges." 



From its proper home, the Mediterranean and the 

 Atlantic between the Canary Islands and England, the 

 Black Sea- Bream has several times wandered north and 

 been met -with on the south coast of Norway, up to 

 Tronclhjem FjoixV. On only one single occasion, how- 

 ever, has it been found in Swedish waters: this was in 

 1840, when a si)ecimen 18',., in. long Avas taken ofi:' 

 the Scanian coast''. It is extremely improbable that it 

 propagates its species north of England, as only full- 

 grown specimens, and never small fry, have been taken 

 there. According to Couch' it prefers a rocky bottom 

 and sometimes enters harboui's and inlets, ^vhere it is 

 generally caught with rod and line, mussels being the 

 best bait. He says, however, that "it also feeds on the 

 finer kind of seaweeds, upon which it becomes exceed- 

 ingly fat.' Its flesh is generally little esteemed, but 

 in the north of France it is considered fairlj' good^ 



" This is also the case iu Cantharus orbiridarin, according to Bonaparte's figure and description. 



'' Fish. G:t Brit., IreL, I. c. 



' Cf. COLLETT, I. C. 



<' NiLSSON, Skand. Fn., 1. c, p. 120. 



« Fish. Brit. Isl., I. p. 222. 



•'' Valenciennes, 1. c, p. 337. 



