THE STRIPED RED MULLET. 61 



of smaller size, and still greater beauty, the 

 plain red mullet, (Mullus barbatus,) the Romans 

 were accustomed to keep in vases, as we do 

 gold fish, for the sake of the richness of their 

 colouring. This species is very rare on our 

 coast ; indeed, only three or four instances of 

 its capture are on record. 



The flesh of the striped red mullet is white, 

 firm, and of excellent flavour. In taking this 

 fish, the trawl net is generally employed, as this 

 species usually keeps low near the bed, asso- 

 ciated in shoals. These often shift their ground, 

 so that, although sometimes great numbers are 

 taken, at other times, the fisherman is less suc- 

 cessful. Occasionally, these fishes are captured 

 in mackerel nets, near the surface. The striped 

 red mullet has the lower jaw furnished with 

 two long barbels, or cirri ; the dorsal fin is 

 double. The general colour is pink, passing 

 into white on the under parts, with three or 

 four yellow stripes along the sides. The 

 slightest force is sufficient to remove the scales 

 of this fish, and produce an extravasation of 

 blood below the cuticle ; and hence it is that, 

 when at the fishmongers', it appears irregularly 

 marbled with purple and bright red, the result 

 of its struggles when caught. The striped red 

 mullet breeds in spring, and the young attain 



