217 



BED MULLET. 



PLAIN RED MULLET. 



Midliis minor, Jonston; Capud 1, Art. 1, Tab. 17, f. 5. 



" barhatus, "Willouguby; p. 285, tab. S. 7. 



" " LlNN^US. CUVIER. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 338. 



" " Yakkell; British Fishes, vol. i, p. 36. 



Le Midle Boicget, Lacepede. Risso. Guxther's Catalogue 



of British Museum, vol. i, p. 401. 



The Red IMullct appears to be most common in the 

 Mediterranean, although Risso seems to remark the contrary; 

 but it was certainly the species to which many of the anecdotes 

 of ancient writers, which we have given when speaking of 

 the Surmullet, most frequently apply. On our own coasts, 

 however, it is a rare visitor, so that when an example is met 

 with it is thought deserving of special notice. Yet it has 

 been taken at the two extremes of the kingdom, for while 

 Mr. Cocks records it as met with at Falmouth, Dr. George 

 Johnston has published the notice of one obtained by himself 

 on the coast of Berwickshire. 



In its general shape, and, according to Dr. Gunther, in the 

 frame of its bones, it bears a near resemblance to the Common 

 Striped Surmullet, insomu.ch that some have supiDosed the 

 former to be only a variety of the latter. It may happen, 

 perhaps, that the mere circumstance of colour will not prove 

 sufficient to distinguish them; for, although the Red Mullet 

 may never display the well-marked stripes commonly found 

 in the Surmullet, it has been observed that the latter (at 

 least during life) may chance to have them concealed by the 

 brilliancy of its other colour. But although the colour of 



