GREA T BRITAIN. 67 



reaches to beneath the front edge or even first third of the 

 eye. Teeth. Three or four irregularly placed rows, with 

 rounded crowns and of different sizes, are present laterally 

 and posteriorly in either jaw ; none on the vomer, palatine 

 bones, or tongue. Fins. Dorsal spines strong, the fourth 

 and fifth the largest ; rays shorter than the spines, the last 

 two somewhat thickened, but not scaled nor adherent to- 

 gether. Pectoral as long as the head, third anal spine some- 

 what longer than the second. Scales. Seven rows between 

 the eye and the angle of the preopercle. Colours. Scarlet 

 tinged with orange, becoming lighter beneath. A large 

 black spot on the shoulder, intersected by the lateral-line, 

 but absent in the young. 



Habits. Appears to be very sensitive to cold, and in 

 the winter retires to the deep sea, not re-appearing until 

 the weather is warm. It frequents the vicinity of rocks and 

 seaweeds, and sometimes congregates in enormous numbers, 

 especially near the end of the summer, when schools of 

 them have been mistaken for pilchards. Couch records 

 how, on one occasion, 20,000, and on another 60,000, were 

 taken at one time. Those of the same size appear to keep 

 together. They feed upon small fish, Crustacea, and sea- 

 weed. In 1874 a vessel laden with wheat was wrecked in 

 Cornwall, and soon afterwards sea-breams were taken which 

 were found to have been feeding upon the wheat ; they were 

 in good condition. 



Means of capture. Either by nets or using a bait as the 

 lugworm, shell fish, herring fry, or a slice from a mackerel. 



Breeding. Towards the end of the year or in the winter 

 months. 



As food. Not much esteemed, as they soon become 

 stale and tainted, but large numbers are disposed of 

 throughout the Midland counties. They salt badly. In 



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