27® *^fIE MULLET- 



The mullets are in great plenty in the Mediterranean^ 

 and along the foiithern coafts of Fra?ice. In a certain 

 lake near Marte^ues^ in the fouth of France^ there arc vail 

 fhoals which enter there during fpring, the feafon of co- 

 pulation among thefe fifhes ; after impregnation they re- 

 turn to the Tea, but are intercepted by weres of reeds. 



Of the milts and roes of the mullet, the famous J5o- 

 targo of the Italians is made up. The materials are ta- 

 ken out entire, and for a few hours covered up with fait ; 

 afterwards they are preffed between two boards, dried in 

 the fun for about a fortnight, when they ate fit for ufe. 

 This compofition is faid to brace a weak itoniach, and to 

 give an ecsquifite relilli to wine, when ate before drink- 

 ing. 



The food of the mullet is mud, or fea-weed ; it 

 never attempts to devour any fifli. The flefli of this 

 animal is palatable, though at prefent not a fafliionable 

 difli ; its flavour greatly depends on the ground where it 

 is fed ; if among mud, it conftantly taftes and fmells of 

 that kind of food. 



According to Gcfner *, the mullets are the moft fala- 

 cious of ail animals ; the male purfuing the female even 

 after flie is captured, till drawn afnore. At I'areritum, a 

 male, purfued his female that had been caught with the 

 hook and line, till he received feveral flrokes with a 

 fpear, and was at lafl: taken and drawn into the boat : 

 By fuch an ungovernable defire are thefe animals impel- 

 led to fulfil the purpofe of nature. 



At Athens, and afterwards at Rome, when an unfortu- 

 nate galant was catched in the company of his miftreft, 

 tlie mullet is faid to have been employed by the enraged 



hufband 



* De PifcibuA 



