614 



INDIAN SURMULLET. 



Mullus Indicus. M. supra purpureus, infra albicans, cor-pore 



utrinque bimaculato. 

 Surmullet with the body purple above, whitish below, and 



marked on each side by two spots. 

 Rahtee Goolivinda, Rvsselmd.pl. 157. 



SIZE and habit of the common or red Mullet : 

 colour extremely beautiful in the living fish, but 

 fading very soon after death : upper part of the 

 head, and back, dark changeable purple, growing 

 faint on the sides, which are marked by a few longi- 

 tudinal azure and golden lines, and by two oblong 

 spots on each side : the first situated about the 

 middle of the body, smallish, and of an opaline or 

 changeable golden and white colour : the second 

 situated near the tail, larger, and of a dark purple : 

 abdomen white: dorsal fin purple, streaked with 

 light blue : pectoral and anal pink-colour : native 

 of the Indian seas : observed by Dr. Russel near 

 Visgapatam : inferior as a food to the red Mullet, 

 and not much esteemed. 



