THE THREE-BANDED MULLET. 



239 



touch, as they are well furnished with nerves, extremely sensitive, and may aid the fish 

 in distinguishing one substance from another under dark, overhanging rocks, where the 

 eyes would be of no service. They are composed of long muscular fibres, covered 

 with skin, and strengthened by a single cartilaginous ray that passes along the centre. 

 The average weight of the Surmullet is about two pounds, and its ordinary length 

 eighteen inches. 



ANOTHER species of this genus, the PLAIN RED-MULLET (Mullus barbdtus}, has oc- 

 casionally been taken on the British coasts, where, however, it seems to be of very rare 

 occurrence. 



In general habits it closely resembles the preceding species, but may be distinguished 

 from that fish by the almost vertical line of the head, which rises abruptly from the 

 muzzle to the eyes, and by the different coloring. In the Plain Red-Mullet the back 

 is light pink, the sides and part of the abdomen dark red, and there is a single yellow 

 streak below the lateral line. 



THREE-BANDED MULLET. -l/pe/ieus trlfasciatus. 



A RATHER extensive genus belonging to the present family cannot be passed over 

 without some notice, as it contains many fish which are remarkable for their form and 

 coloring, if not for their habits or utilities. 



The THREE-BANDED MULLET is a native of the Indian and Polynesian Seas, and has 

 been taken off the coasts of China, Amboyna, Celebes, Ceylon, and India. It is an 

 extremely variable species, so much so indeed that it has been indiscriminately called 

 the Three-banded or the Two-banded Mullet, according to the number of stripes worn by 

 the particular individual. The common variety of this fish is marked as follows : 

 Behind the eye is a large black spot of an oblong form, a broad cross-band runs over 

 the tail, and another from the front portion of the soft dorsal fin. Sometimes a third 

 similar band rises from the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. Between these bands the 

 scales are either yellow or white, according to the peculiarity of the individual. The 

 upper half of the dorsal fin is mostly streaked with white and black longitudinal bands, 

 and the remainder is wholly black. The anal fin is also marked with similar black 

 bands. 



