CLASS y. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 



439 



THE GREAT WEEVER. 



This includes several species, among which is the Dusky Serranus or Dusky Perch, S. fjujas, 

 common in the Mediterranean, and occasionally found on the shores of Northern Europe; it 

 weighs from twenty to forty pounds ; its flesh is in some estimation as food. 



The Stone Bass, S. Couchii, is noted for following pieces of drift wood, which it finds in the 

 sea ; it is rare, but is sometimes taken on the British coasts. 



The Groper, S. eri/thror/asto; is two to three feet long; olive-brown above, red bcneatli. ll 

 is brought into the markets along our Atlantic coast, but its flesh is tough and little prized. 



Genus CENTRARCHUS : Ccntrarchus. — To this belong a number of small fishes, as the 

 FreshAVater Bass, C. cencus, Black Fresh- Water Bass, C.fascialus, &c. 



Genus TRACHINUS : Trachinus. — This includes the Great Weever, T. Draco, called Stiny- 



Bull, Sea-Oaf, Chanticleer, Arc, in Eng- 

 land. It is about twelve inches long, 

 lives in deep water, and is noted for in- 

 flicting serious wounds with its spines if 

 carelessly handled. The flesh is good. 

 Another species is the Lesser Weever, 

 T. vipera : both are common in Euro- 

 pean seas. 

 Genus MULLUS : Mullus. — This includes several species, called Mullets, greatly esteemed 



by epicures. In ancient Rome enormous 

 prices were paid for them ; one weighing five 

 or six pounds was sometimes sold for two hun- 

 dred dollars ; the Striped Red Mullet, M. 

 surmuletus, weighs from two to six pounds ; 

 at some seasons it is abundant, and again it is 

 scarce. It appears in the London markets 

 throughout the year. It feeds at great 

 depths, and is aided in its search for food by 

 two long feelers depending from the lower 

 jaw. It is generally taken with the trawl-net. There are other foreign species. The American 

 mullets belong to the genus Mugil, and will be hereafter noticed. 



Genus SPHYR^'ENA: Sphi/ra;na. — To this belongs the Common Sphyr^na, aS'. vulgaris: it 

 is two to three feet long, of a shiny bronzed or bluish-black color. The fluid called Essence 

 d' Orient, used in the manufacture of artificial pearls, is prepared from the scales of this fish, 

 together with the minute silvery particles of the air-bladder. This manufacture is carried on 

 extensively at Rome. The body of the pearls is of alabaster; these are dipped in the fluid, and 

 when dried have all the shining gloss of true peai'ls. 



THE STRIPED RED MULLJiT. 



THE SCIuENID^. 



This family embraces many species of large, powerful, and rapacious fishes. 

 Genus SCI^NA: Scicena. — To this belongs the Maigre, S. aquila, four to six feet long, found 



in the European waters, and com- 

 mon in the Mediterranean. It 

 "^ ''^■^ ""^^ swims in shoals, each uttering a 



>^^^^^^ -^34^^^^ grunting noise. It was greatly es- 

 teemed by the epicures of ancient 

 Rome. When caught by the fish- 

 ermen, its struggles are so vio- 

 lent as sometimes to knock a man 

 down. The bones of the ear arc 

 very large, and were formerly sup- 

 posed to be capable of curing the colic in persons to whom they were presented. Hence they 

 were called Colic-Stones, and were even set in gold and worn as amulets. 



TUB MAIGRE, 



