68 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



on the under parts ; the fins are reddish. There 

 are two dorsal fins. 



An allied species, the bearded umbrina, 

 (Umbrina vulgaris,) with a short barbule at 

 the tip of the lower jaw, inhabits the same 

 seas as the maigre, and is also celebrated 

 for the excellence of its flesh. It is, how- 

 ever, much smaller than the latter, seldom 

 exceeding two feet in length. It is covered 

 with large scales. The general hue of the 

 body is yellowish, with oblique lines on each 

 side, from the back downwards and forwards 

 of silver and blue. 



To a family called Sparidce, or the sea- 

 breams, belongs the red gilt-head, or common 

 sea-bream, (Pagellus centrodontatus,) a common 

 fish in the Mediterranean, and tolerably abun- 

 dant on the western and southern coasts of 

 England, and on the adjacent coasts of France. 

 It occurs also on many parts of the Irish coast. 

 During the summer and autumn, it is fre- 

 quently taken by the Hastings fishermen, and 

 may be seen in the fish-market. It is, however, 

 in but little request for the table. In this fish, 

 the teeth in front are conical, slender, and 

 numerous ; the others are numerous, stout, 

 rounded, and in close array, consequently they 

 are well adapted for masticating sea-weeds, and 



