GREA T BRITAIN. 65 



edge of the eye. Posterior edge of preopercle finely 

 roughened. Teeth. Cardiform in both jaws, with the 

 outer row somewhat the largest, and slightly compressed ; 

 none on the vomer, palatines, or tongues. Fins. Dorsal 

 spines of moderate strength, increasing in length to the 

 fourth or fifth. Anal spines shorter than the rays. Air- 

 bladder. Ending posteriorly in two horns, which are sepa- 

 rated one from the other by the interhsemal spines. 

 Colours. Gray, glossed with gold, becoming lighter on the 

 sides and beneath ; cheeks and forehead glossed with 

 purple. Below the lateral line are three or four parallel, 

 or occasionally irregular, horizontal bands along the body, 

 which have a golden tint. Dorsal, dark coloured ; the other 

 fins, with dark edges. The colours are subject to great 

 variation. 



Habits. A gregarious fish, which prefers rocky localities, 

 feeding upon the finer kinds of seaweeds. It frequents bays 

 and harbours, and is frequently taken by anglers fishing 

 from the shore. It is more abundant about July and 

 August, after which period it retires to deeper water. An 

 example has been captured as late as Christmas after a 

 cold season, and a second in February, having the roe well 

 developed. In aquaria it is found to be fond of shrimps. 



Means of capture. Generally during summer and early 

 autumn by angling, the baits being lobworms or bits of 

 mussels ; also by nets. 



As food. It is little esteemed, its flesh be,ing soft ; those 

 taken late in the season are said to have the flesh pretty 

 firm, should they be captured on the French side of the 

 Channel. 



Habitat. Rare in Northern Europe, becoming more 

 common along the west and south coast of England, and in 

 the Atlantic, so far as Madeira and the Canary Isles. It 



VOL. I. E. I. F 



