76 EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL 



The sea -trout is described in the following line : 

 " Purpureisque salar stellatus tergora guttis." 



Some particular fish were highly extolled by the 

 ancients for their gastronomic qualities. The rhombus 

 was esteemed a remarkable delicacy. In the fourth satire 

 of Juvenal, a ludicrous importance is given to the capture 

 of one, by the flatterers of Domitian. It is mentioned by 

 Horace and Martial. Athenseus calls it sweet and nutri- 

 tious. It is generally considered as the species of the 

 turbot. The mullet is mentioned by Horace as a rare 

 delicacy of great price. See likewise Juvenal (Sat. iv, 15) ; 

 Martial (Xenia, 74); and Macrobius (Saturnal. iii, 16). 

 Galen tells us that its liver, prepared with wine and oil, 

 was esteemed a peculiar delicacy. 



The murene was eagerly sought after by the epicures of 

 Koine. Pliny, Martial, and Macrobius tell us that those 

 from Sicily were esteemed the best. Icesius says, it is 

 as luscious and savoury as the eel, and calls it " the Helen 

 of suppers." It is related of Yedius Pollio that he 

 fed his murenes with the bodies of condemned slaves. 

 L. Crassus, the orator, put on mourning clothes for the 

 death of a murene. 



Our common gudgeon was the first fish, in point of 

 rarity and delicacy, presented at the rich banquets of the 

 Yenetians (Xenia, Ep. 83j. Juvenal speaks of it as being 

 of little value. Galen says it is delicious, digestible, and 

 wholesome, especially when taken in waters having a stony 

 or rocky bed. Seth and Diphilus say, that when the flesh 



