PLAIN RED MULLET. 66 



white, but without any appearance of a yellow line, and very 

 similar to the coloured figure in Bloch, plate 348, fig. 2, and 

 the figure in the coloured copies of the work of Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes before quoted, plate 70. 



The habits of this species are stated to be the same as 

 those of the Striped Red Mullet, and the number of fin-rays 

 are as follows : 



D. 7 1+8 : P. 16. : V. 6 : A. 1 +6 : C. 15. 



The positions of the fins differ a little in the two species, 

 as shown in the woodcuts on comparison, and the colour of 

 the connecting membrane is a pale yellow ; the irides also 

 are yellow, the scales somewhat smaller in size than those of 

 the Striped Mullet, and equally deciduous, but decidedly dis- 

 tinct in structure, as the vignettes exhibit. The trivial term 

 barbatus applied to this species is objectionable, as the 

 cirri, to which it is intended to refer, are common not 

 only to our Striped Mullet, but also to several Indian and 

 American species of Red Mullets, which were till lately in- 

 cluded in the genus Mullus : the cirri are in reality a 

 generic rather than a specific character. 



The head is remarkable for its almost vertical profile, and 

 the fish seldom exceeds six inches in length. 



A scale from the lateral line of each fish is added in 

 farther proof of the distinction of the species ; that on the 

 right hand is from the Plain Red Mullet, the other from 

 the Striped Red Mullet. 



VOL. I. 



