23^ , THE SURMUJkLE?. 



Genus XLI — l!he Zummlki, 



J. BIS genus coiTjprehends the three fpccies of mullets j 

 nil fifties of the mofl delicate kind : fome of tiiem were in 

 fuch requeft among the Romans, tliat thej were bouglitby 

 the private citizens for their weight of lilver. It was in 

 the purchafe of this filh, above all others, that the 

 ■wealthy fenators fhewed their extravagance and fcnfuali- 

 tj. ^Juvenal and Flhiy afford ample ieftimo!:j of the 

 luxury of their age, which, happily for mankind, has 

 rever been equalled in any ether period of huujan focie- 

 tv *. An infiance of lixty-four pounds being paid lor a 

 fiili of three pounds weight, is recorded by 'Pliny \. 



But the manner of drefiing and eating thefe filh, Hill 

 more than the extravagance of the price, fliewcd the epi- 

 curifm of the ancient entertainments. Tlie mullet 

 was not reckoned worth a farthing if it did not die in 

 the hand of your guell:. There was waLer kept in the 

 eating room into which the living animal was put, an4 

 from thence conveyed immediately to the flew, where it 

 v;as drelTed, which was al o in the fame apartrnent, and 

 under the table j from thence the filh was placed upon it. 



It 



• Mullum fex millibus emit, ^qusntem fane paribus fiflcrtia libris, 

 Tliis fum is equal to 48I. 8s. f)A. Juv. Sat. xv. 



\ That of AfiDius Celer, a man of confular dignity, Vide Lib. xx, 

 (■S|). 17. 



