462 FISHES. ACANTHOPTERVGII 



longest, with a row of conical teeth, of which the two anterior 

 are largest ; intermaxillaries with two strong teeth before, 

 followed by a row of smaller ones, and a row of strong ones 

 on each palate bone ; cheeks and operculi scaly. 



S. argenteus, (Esox spkyrcena, Lin.) Head narrow, oblong, broad 

 above, and covered with thin scales ; body greenish above, silvery 

 on the sides and belly ; pectoral, ventral, and anal fins reddish ; 

 dorsal and caudal bluish. 3 feet long. Inhabits Mediterranean 

 sea Block, pi. 389. 



Gen. 67. PARALEPIS, Cuv. 



Lower jaw surpassing the upper, forming a cone, and armed 

 with a row of conical teeth, of which the two anterior are the 

 strongest ; the ventral fins and first dorsal much behind ; 

 and the second dorsal scarcely visible. 



The two species which form this genus are the Coregonns paralepis and the Os~ 

 mcrus sphyrenoldes of Risso. 



Gen. 68. MULLUS, Lin. 



Head sloping ; two long cirri under the chin ; large scales on the 

 head and body, which fall easily ; body oblong ; eyes contigu- 

 ous ; three rays in the branchial membrane ; two dorsal fins. 



M. barbatus, Bloch. The Red Surmullet. Back fine red, brilliant 

 silvery on the belly j head broad, truncated. 8 to 9 inches long. 

 Inhabits European seas. Block, pi. 348, fig. 2. 



This is considered a very delicate fish for the table. It was in high repute among 

 the ancient Romans ; and one of the refinements of luxury in ancient Rome was to 

 have this fish in artificial rivulets under the tables of the great, that they might en- 

 joy the pleasure of seeing its colours fade as it expired. 



M. surmuletus, Bloch. The Surmullet. Body reddish silvery, with 

 golden yellow longitudinal bands. 12 to 14 inches long. In- 

 habits Northern seas Shaw, iv. pi. 88. 



M. auriflamma, Lacep. Back bronze-coloured ; a broad longitu- 

 dinal and red band on each side of the body ; a black spot to- 

 wards the extremity of the lateral line ; cirri white ; tail yellow. 

 Inhabits Indian seas Lacep. iii. pi. 13. 



M. mttatus, Forsk. Body whitish, with two longitudinal brown and 

 three yellow bands on each side ; fins whitish. Inhabits Arabian 

 seas. Shaw, iv. pi, 89. 



M. trifasciatus, Lacep. Whitish, with three transverse brown bands 

 on each side. Inhabits Indian seas. Shaw, iv. pi. 89. 



M. bifasciatus, Lacep. Whitish, with two transverse brown bands 

 on each side. Inhabits Indian seas. Lacep. iii. pi. 14. 



Gen. 69. POMATOMUS, Lacep. Cuv. 



Body elongated ; two dorsal fins ; scales large, deciduous ; snout 

 short ; teeth crowded ; eyes very large ; preoperculi more or 

 less notched ; seven rays in the branchial membrane. 



