GEN. SCI^ENA. THE MAIGRE. 169 



spines, no cirri under the mouth, nor canines, with 

 only a range of strong pointed and nearly equai 

 teeth in both jaws. Some of the species reach to 

 a great size, and have long been exceedingly prized 

 in the Mediterranean for the excellence of their 

 flesh. 



(Sp. 33.) S. aquila. The Maigre (PL VII.) is the 

 best known, the largest, and most remarkable genus 

 in the European seas, and is familiarly known on 

 the coasts of Italy. It has but one anal spine, and 

 has a strong general resemblance to a large Basse 

 (See ant. p. 128). It acquires a great size, reaching 

 from three to six feet, with proportionate bulk. It 

 is also very powerful ; so that it has been reported 

 of one caught asleep in a net near Dieppe, that 

 when roused it struggled so violently with the 

 captor as to throw him into the water, whence he 

 was relieved with difficulty. The colour of the 

 upper parts is brownish grey, of the sides silvery 

 grey, and of the abdomen white. In the Medi- 

 terranean they present, as they move about, the 

 brilliancy of gold and silver, and shine with all the 

 colours of the rainbow. 



We have already remarked that the Maigre is 

 only a rare visitor of the British Isles. Dr. Neill, 

 we believe, was the first who noted it, as observed 

 in Shetland in 1819. This individual was observed 

 by the fishermen when endeavouring to escape from 

 a Seal ; it measured five feet four inches, and when 

 raised into the boat, uttered its usual purring noise. 

 A second specimen was taken at Start Bay, Devon- 



