THE GILT-HEAD. *^^ 



Section VIII, 



Genus XXXV.— ^A^ Gih-head, 



i. HE fi(hes of this tribe are for the moft part inbabitantss 

 of the South Seas, where they often relieved the want of 

 the adventurous Captain Cook and his hungry compa- 

 nions. The body is of an oval fl^ape, earinated, and co- 

 vered with very flender fcales : The head is comprefled, 

 fcaly, and of a moderate fiz,e; the jaws are furniftied 

 with teeth, which are covered by the lips, the lower pro- 

 jecting beyond the upper. There is but one dorfal, and 

 one anal fin ; the pectoral are placed near the belly, and 

 greatly fharpened towards the end: the ventral fins are 

 fmaller, and placed fomewhat behind them. 



I'he Luniilated Gilt-head \, 



1 HIS fpecies is an inhabitant of the BritiJJj coafts, where 

 it haunts the bold, rocky, and deep fliores. The whole 

 genus to which it belongs feed chiefly upon oyfiers, and 

 other fhell-fifh, which they comminute with ttieir ftrong 

 teeth before they enter the ftomach. The apparatus of 

 Vol. III. E e the 



} Aurata, Rondclct. Sparus Lunula, Lin. Syft. 



