Red Mullets and Sea^breams 



615 



Photo by W. Saville-Kcnt, F.Z.S.'} 



BEOWN SNAPPER. 

 The snappers are esteemed for the table. 



[Milford-on-Sea. 



known, the European species 

 is the most prized as a food- 

 fish. Its fame, indeed, extends 

 backwards to the time of the 

 ancient Komans, who sought 

 far and wide for large speci- 

 mens, paying ruinous prices 

 for them. "Then, as nowa- 

 days," writes Dr. Giinther, " it 

 was considered essential for 

 the enjoyment of this delicacy 

 that the fish should exhibit 

 the red colour of its integu- 

 ment. The Komans 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 fish immediately after its capture, thus causing a permanent 

 contraction of the chromatophores containing the red pigment." 



Beneath the chin of the red mullets will be noticed two long finger-like processes ; these 

 can be thrust forward and moved about, or laid back in a groove between the sides of the 

 lower jaw, and are used to rake about in the sand and gravel at the bottom of the sea 

 to discover burrowing shrimps 

 or worms. Even dead food 

 they are said to feel with 

 these barbels, as they are 

 called, before biting. The 

 red colour has been observed 

 in the Marine Aquarium at 

 Plymouth to become darker 

 when the fish rise from the 

 ground, and to pale away when 

 they descend. 



Two forms of red mullet 

 occur in European waters, but 

 it is not yet finally settled 

 whether they represent distinct 

 species. The one is the plain 

 RED MULLET, of a rich carmine- 

 red above and silvery white 

 below ; the other the STRIPED 

 MULLET, or SUR-MULLET, which has a beautiful red colour on the back and sides, and from 

 three to five bright yellow bands passing from head to tail. Till recently the striped form was 

 regarded as the female of the plain red mullet, but many authorities incline to the view that 

 the two are distinct species. 



The SEA-BREAMS are fishes of the tropical and temperate regions, represented by a 

 considerable number of species. Only one is at all abundant on the British coasts, and this 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.} 



[Milford-on-Sea. 



RED SEA-BREAM. 

 Some species of sea-bream occasionally enter fresh-water. 



