GEN. PAGELLUS. THE SEA-BREAM. 179 



four to six inches long, they abound, says Mr. Yar- 

 rell, in innumerable multitudes, and are taken by 

 anglers in harbours and from rocks, for they bite 

 with great eagerness at any bait : they devour also 

 sea-weeds and shell-fish. The Sea-bream, accord- 

 ing to Cuvier and Valenciennes, is fort bonne, 

 (vi. 141) ; according to Mr. Couch, it is not highly 

 esteemed for the table, and is not at all in request 

 when salted ; hence when abundant, says he, I have 

 known it sold at so low a rate as two shillings and 

 sixpence the hundred weight. Curious there should 

 be so wide a difference on the opposite sides of the 

 Channel! Something may depend upon the season ; 

 and to compensate for our more fastidious taste, Mr. 

 Yarrell has supplied the following recipe, as ma- 

 terially improving the ordinary flavour of this fish. 

 When thoroughly cleaned, wipe the fish dry with- 

 out removing any of the scales : then broil, turning 

 often, and if the skin cracks, flour it a little to keep 

 the outer skin entire. When brought to table, the 

 whole skin and scales turn off without difficulty ; 

 the flesh underneath will be found of good flavour. 



Gen. XIX. Dentax. — This genus consists of 

 fishes of the Sea-bream family which have long 

 conical teeth in both jaws, usually in a single row, 

 with some of the anterior elongated like sharp and 

 powerful canines. Two species are known in the 

 Mediterranean, and more in southern seas. The one 

 we are about to mention is valued in Dalmatia and 

 the Levant as a wholesome and palatable food when 



