THE BASSE. 59 



in the Mediterranean. It was known to the 

 Greeks and Eomans. The former termed it 

 labrax, from its voracity ; the hitter, lupus, or 

 wolf, for the same reason. This fish wanders 

 in shoals, and often ascends rivers, even beyond 

 the tideway ; it will, indeed, live altogether in 

 fresh water, and numbers, as Mr. Yarrell ob- 

 serves, have been retained with success in 

 Mr. Arnold's fresh water lake in Guernsey, to 

 the improvement of their excellence for the 

 table. This species is mostly taken in nets, 

 but often by hooks attached to deep sea-lines ; 

 they may be caught also during the flood-tide 

 with a long rod and strong line, from a pier- 

 head, or other projecting situation ; they bite 

 freely, and feed on the fry of fishes, on small 

 Crustacea, and marine insects. The basse usually 

 measures from twelve to twenty inches in length, 

 but is sometimes caught weighing from ten to 

 fifteen pounds. The flesh is very good. 



The general colour of the back is a dusky 

 blue, passing into silvery white beneath ; the 

 fins are pale brown ; there are tAvo dorsal fins, 

 and, as in the perch, there are two external 

 openings to each nostril. Fin-rays, D 9. 1 + 12. 

 F 16. V 1 -f 5. A 3 -f 11. c 17. 



Among the fishes which, froin antiquity, have 

 been celebrated for their excellence, must be 



