THE GREY MULLET. 227 



from the above description, that not a single specimen has 

 fallen under my notice ; those which I have examined 

 being the M. chelo of Cuvier (the next fish to be described), 

 and not M. capito^ which, according to my observation, is 

 by far the rarer fish of the two. 



" The Grey Mullet never goes to a great distance from 

 land, but delights in shallow water, when the weather is 

 warm and fine, at which time it is seen prowling near the 

 margin in search of food, and imprinting a dimple on the 

 placid surface, as it snatches beneath any oily substance 

 that may chance to be swimming. It selects food that is 

 soft and fat, or such as has begun to suffer decomposition, 

 in search of which it is often seen thrusting its mouth into 

 soft mud ; and, for selecting it, the lips appear to be fur- 

 nished with exquisite sensibility of taste. 



*' The Grey Mullets shed their spawn about Midsum- 

 mer ; and the young in August, then an inch long, are 

 seen entering the fresh water, keeping at some distance 

 above the tide, but retiring as it recedes. Mr Arnould 

 put a number of the fry of the grey mullet about the size 

 of a finger into his pond at Guernsey, which is about three 

 acres area, and after a few years, mullets of four pounds 

 weight were caught, which proved to be fatter, deeper, and 

 heavier for their length, than others obtained from the sea. 

 Of all the various salt-water fishes introduced, the Grey 

 Mullet appeared to be the most improved. A slight change 

 in the external colour is said to be visible." 



These fish are with some difficulty taken in the sean, ex- 

 cept by those who are familiar with their habits, for when 

 they find themselves enclosed, and danger at hand, they es- 

 cape by leaping over the body of the net, and, as soon as 

 one takes the lead, the rest follow immediately in succession. 



p 2 



