THE MAIGRE. 201 



culum ; taking- a slight bent over the pectorals, from thence falling 

 gradually to the tail ; jaws furnished with a number of sharp teeth, 

 none in the vomer, tongue, or palatines. Number of fin rays — 

 1st D. 9; 2d D. 28; P. 16 ; V. 6 ; A. 9 j C. 17 ; Branchial rays 7. 



The niaigre is extremely common in many parts of the 

 Mediterranean, especially along the Roman States. It has 

 occurred several times on the English coasts, as well as once 

 in Zetland. A specimen about three feet and a half in 

 length was taken a short time since in the Firth of Forth, 

 and is [now in the College Museum of Edinburgh, from 

 which the above description was taken. It was found en- 

 tangled ill a salmon net at the mouth of the Esk, a short 

 distance from Musselburgh. Paul Jovius mentions, that 

 many are taken at the mouth of rivers, along with sturgeons. 

 They swim in troops, and are said to utter at times a sin- 

 gular low bellowing beneath the waters. The noise may 

 be heard at a depth of twenty fathoms, and is often very 

 perceptible when the ear is placed upon the gunnel of the 

 boat. Its tone seems to vary, as some have compared it to 

 a dull buzzing, others to a sharp whistle. Some of the fisher- 

 men allege, that the males alone are musical during spawn- 

 ing time, and that it is quite possible to capture them with- 

 out any bait, merely by imitating this peculiar sound.* It 

 is recorded that three fishermen, guided by this grunting 

 sound, dropt their net on one occasion so successfully as 

 to secure twenty-five of these fish at a single throw. One 

 alluded to by Cuvier as having been entangled in a net 

 spread along the shore at Dieppe, was at first found sleep- 

 ing ; but on being handled, it roused itself so suddenly, and 

 with such violence, as to precipitate the fisherman into the 

 water and force him to call for assistance before he could 



* Eiici/chpcpffia Britfiniiiva, article Ichthyolofiy. 



