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acquainted with this fish. It often attains a length of more 

 than three feet, and is one of the finest table fish (Branzin, 

 Spinola). It usually haunts the coast, for it prefers shallow 

 water, and often enters the mouths of rivers. In stormy wea- 

 ther perches approach in shoals in order to catch the mollusks 

 torn from the rocks by the breakers. They are caught with 

 the line , and the larger kinds offer violent resistance when 

 taken. In the Aquarium, they live and propagate for years, 

 but till now the young have never fully developed 



To the commonest fish in the Gulf belong the different spe- 

 cies of the genus Mugil (mullet). They are easily recognised by 

 their slender silver-grey bodies and the peculiar form of their 

 mouths ; the thick upper lip has a gap into which fits a pro- 

 tuberance on the under-lip. These fish come near the coast 

 in shoals, and chiefly feed on soft, decayed material. In the 

 Aquarium they prefer the algae and slime which cover the 

 rocks, and decayed animal and vegetable matter, so that they 

 are very useful as scavengers. Their flesh is very good and 

 tender, and, being also plentiful, they are one of the commo- 

 nest table-fish (Cefalo). 



Many fish of the same kind are almost always to be found 

 in the Aquarium, but so little is known of their habits, when 

 in their natural state, that it is scarcely possible to enter into 

 detail, so we will be content with mentioning their names, 

 adding a few remarks to the most interesting. First are the 

 different species of Bream, which, having well-tasting flesh, 

 are largely fished and highly valued in the market. The sack- 

 bream (Pagrus^ red-bream (PsLgellus). gold-stripe (Box) and 

 similar small kinds live together in one tank, and feed on small 

 crabs and other animals; also on vegetable matter. Then come 

 the larger goat-bream (Sargus), snout-bream (Maenaj, and 

 the rarer blade-bream (Cantharus), which has hitherto been 

 represented in our tanks by a single individual that has lived 

 there for several years and is the oldest fish we have. The 

 most valuable are the gold-bream (Chrysophrys) and tooth- 

 bream (Dentex) , very beautiful fish, with shining marks on 

 their round backs. The first is caught in all parts of the Me- 

 diterranean, and also in brackish inland-seas and lagoons, where 

 they go to hunt shellfish, for which reason the latter are used 

 as bait in fishing. The Romans cultivated these fish in ponds 

 and in Lake Lucrine. The tooth-bream is the largest of all, often 

 attaining a length of three feet, and weighing more than 20 

 pounds. These fish are terrible brigands and often snatch fish 



