404 FISHES. 



lateral and rather short ; teeth very feeble. Eye lateral, of 

 moderate size. Two short dorsal fins remote from each other, 

 the first luith' feeble spines ; anal similar to the second dorsal. 

 Vent mis with one spine and five rays. Pectorals short. Bran- 

 chiosteycds four ; stomach siphonal. 



The " Red Mullets " form a very natural family, which, on 

 account of slight modifications of the dentition, has been 

 divided into several sub-genera — Upeneoides, JJpeneichthys, 

 Midlus, Mulloidcs, and ITpeneus. They are marine fishes, but 

 many species enter brackish water to feed on the animalcules 

 abounding in the flora of brackwater. About forty different 

 species are known chiefly from tropical seas, the European 

 species (if. Ixcrhatus, see p. 43, Fig. 7), extending far north- 

 wards into the temperate zone. None attain to a large size, 

 specimens of from two to three lbs. being not common, but 

 all are highly esteemed as food. 



The most celebrated is the European species (of which 

 there is one only, 3L surmidetus being probably the female). 

 The ancient Eomans called it Midlns, the Greeks rptyXTj. 

 The Romans priced it above any other fish ; they sought for 

 large specimens far and wide, and paid ruinous prices for 

 them. 



" Mullus tibi quatuor eniptus 

 Librarum, ccenie pompa caputque fuit, 

 Exclamare hbet, non est hie improbe, non est 

 Piscis : homo est ; hominem, Calhodore, voras." 



Martial, x. .31. 



Then, as nowadays, it was considered essential for the 

 enjoyment of this delicacy that the fish should exhibit the 

 red colour of its integuments. The Romans brought it, for 

 that purpose, living into the banqueting room, and allowed it 

 to die in the hands of the guests, the red colour appearing in 

 all its brilliancy during the death struggle of the fish. The 

 fishermen of our times attain the same object by scaling the 



