86 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



cubical ; the mouth also opens in the same direction ; 

 a stout rough spine stands up from each side of the 

 head. From the mouth issues a long narrow worm- 

 like filament, which is made to project above the 

 mud, while the fish lies concealed under it. Small 

 fishes hastening to seize the supposed worm, are 

 presently themselves seized and devoured. It has no 

 air-bladder, and therefore is compelled to remain at 

 the bottom. There is a species in the Mediterra- 

 nean, ( U. Scaber,) which, notwithstanding its hideous 

 deformity, is eaten. It is about a foot in length. 



y. ABDOMINAL* PERCHES. 



This section comprises such as have the ventrals 

 placed farther back than the pectorals. Among 

 them Cuvier places 



Mullus^ the Surmullet. 



It is distinguished by the two dorsals being widely 

 separated ; by the large size of the* scales, which are 

 easily rubbed off"; by the long soft filaments of the 

 lower jaws; by having no teeth in the upper jaw, 

 and no air-bladder. The Striped Surmullet (M. Sur- 

 muletus) is common in the Mediterranean ; it is not 

 unfrequently taken on our own southern shores. It 

 is less than a foot in length, of a fine lively crimson ; 

 and is famous as being the " Mugil," of which the 

 Roman epicures were so extravagantly fond, giving 

 * Abdomen, the belly. f Its Latin name. 



