206 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



appears to be an addition to the British Fauna, since no in- 

 stance has been hitherto recorded of its occurrence on the 

 coast of Britain. It is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean 

 Sea, and I have reason to suppose that it has been found 

 more than once on the English coast, but mistaken for the 

 Pagrus vulgaris, which it greatly resembles ; for Mr Yar- 

 rell, in his description of that fish, says, " the pectoral fins 

 have occasionally a violet- coloured spot at their origin," a 

 character which is constant in the acarne, and which has 

 not been noticed by any other author as occurring in the 

 Pagrus vulgaris. 



This species is at once distinguished from the rest of the 

 British breams, by the dark spot at the base of the pecto- 

 rals ; besides that character it is discriminated from Pag- 

 rus vulgaris^ Pagellus erytlirinus, and, Pagelhis centrodontus 

 in other respects. The Pagrus has never more than six 

 teeth in the first row, in front of each jaw, the acarne hav- 

 ing thirty in the first row on the upper jaw. 



The Pagellus erythrinus has the origin of the lateral line 

 slightly bent, and the anterior part of the orbit placed behind 

 the posterior angle of the maxillary bone ; while the acarne 

 has the lateral line taking its course at once, parallel to 

 the curvature of the back, and the anterior margin of the 

 orbit in a line over the angle of the maxillary. 



The Pagellus centrodontus has a large black spot at the 

 oriffin of the lateral line ; while the acarne has the com- 

 mencement of the lateraLline perfectly plain. 



Pagellus centrodontus.*; — The Sea-Bream. 



Specific Characters. — Origin of the lateral line with a large black 

 spot. (See Plate XXVII.) 



Description. — From a specimen fifteen inches in length. Body of 



" Paf/ellus centrodontus, Ciiv., Yar. ; Spams centrodontus, .Ten. Sea- 

 Bream, Red Gillhead, Lunated Gilthead. 



