DKsn.'irTliiN OK TllK YKI.l.uW IT.I.m II. 211 



line of the hack. Ilrad suh-tU-prcssed, ami in lar|.,'('r and 

 oldor fi>li \\w rDstrum is jirDtliiccd, causiiiL; a hollow iit tlu' 

 thi'iiil outline. The lirst dorsavl commences above the pectorals, 

 the fust my much shorter than the second, the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth rays are the longest, and the last the shortest — it has in 

 all thirteen rays. The second dorsal has seventeen rays, the 

 the two first spinous. The pectorals have fifteen soft rays; llic 

 vcntrals have one spinous and five soft rays ; the anal, two 

 sj)inous and eight soft ; the caudal is forked, with rounded tips. 



The mouth i> of" nu)derate si/e ; jn'c-operciiliiin stronj^ly 

 toothed; the upfrcttluin serrated beneath, with a s|)iue on its 

 posterior angle. The iridcs are golden yellow — the pupils 

 bla<-k. 



It varies \n weight \n thllcrcut water.s, from a few ounces to 

 four or five pounds. It is a bold, hardy fish — is easily trans- 

 porteil from one water to another, and appears to thrive ccpudly 

 well on all soils. 



It is taken with tlu- worm or small fish, used either as a live 

 or dead bait, and afl\>rils v(>ry fair sport, pidling strongly on the 

 line for a few minutes, hut In- no means re(|uiring the same 

 degree of skill to clVect its capture. It is the favourite fish of 

 rural angU'rs, where Pii-kcrcl do not ahuund, anri is csfccmcd a 

 •rreat delicacy where sea-fi^h lanuot l)e obtained. 



