92 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



Sparus,* the Sea-Bream. 



The jaws are furnished with several rows of round 

 molar teeth resembling pavement; with pointed in- 

 cisors in front. Many of them, as the Gilt-head, 

 (S. Auratus,) are remarkable for the golden-coloured 

 band which passes over the head, between ; the eyes. 

 From the form of their teeth, they appear to be 

 partly herbivorous, feeding on sea-weed. 



The Sea-Bream of our southern coast (Pagellus 

 Centrodontus-f) is rather a fine fish, silvery, with a 

 rosy, and sometimes a golden, gloss. Mr. Yarrell 

 says of it, " The Sea-Bream is not highly esteemec( 

 for the table, and is not at all in request when salted ; 

 hence, when abundant, I have known it sold at so 

 low a rate as two shillings and sixpence the hundred 

 weight ! When at the sea-coast on fishing excur- 

 sions, it has been one of my customs to eat of the 

 various fishes I could either catch or purchase, that 

 are not in general use for the table. With the ex- 

 ample of Isaac Walton before me, I will venture to 

 suggest a mode of preparing Sea-Bream which 

 materially improves its more ordinary flavour. When 

 thoroughly cleaned, the fish should be wiped dry, but 

 none of the scales should be taken off. In this 

 state it should be broiled, turning it often, and if 

 the skin cracks, flour it a little to keep the outer 

 case entire. When on the table the whole skin 

 and scales turn off without difficulty ; and the mus- 

 cle beneath, saturated with its own natural juices, 



* Its Latin name. 



t K.IVTOJ>, kentron,) a spur, and olovs, odous, a tooth. 



