^217 



RED mulli:t. 



PLAIN KKl) Ml JJ.KT 



Mullus minor, Jonston; Capud 1, Art.l, Tab. 17, f. 5. 



" harbatus, "Wii.LOUGnBY; p. 285, tab. S. 7. 



" " LlNN.i:US. CUVIEK. 



" " JexNyns; Manual, p. 338. 



" " Yakeell; Britisli Fishes, vol. i, p. 36. 



Le Millie Rouget, Lacepede. Eisso. Gunther's Catalogue 



of Britisli Museum, vol. i, p. 101. 



The E,ed Mullet appears to be most common in tlie 

 Mediterranean, although Risso seems to remark the contrary; 

 but it was certainly the species to which many of the anec- 

 dotes of ancient writers, wdiich we have given when s])eaking 

 of the Surmullet, most frequently apply. On our own coasts, 

 however, it is a rare visitor, so that when an example is met 

 with it is thought deserving of s])ecial notice. Yet it has 

 been taken at the two extremes of the kingdom, for A\hile 

 Mr. Cocks records it as met Avith at Falmouth, Dr. George 

 Johnston has published the notice of one obtained by himself 

 on the coast of Berwickshire. 



In its general shape, and, according to Dr. Gunther, in the 

 frame of its bones, it bears a near resemblance to the (yommon 

 Striped Surmullet, insomuch that some have supposed the 

 former to be only a variety of the latter. It may happen, 

 perhaps, that the mere circumstance of colour will not prove 

 sufficient to distinguish them; for, although the Red ]\lullct 

 may never display the well-marked stripes commonly found 

 in the Surmullet, it has been obser-scd that the latter (at 

 least during life) may chance to hav(> them concealed by the 

 brilliancv of its other colour. Uut although the colour oi 



