100 FISHES. 



cirri, which depend from the symphysis of the lower jaw. They are di- 

 vided into two subgenera. 



Mullus, properly so called. 



The Surmullets have but three rays to the branchia?, operculum spine- 

 less, and no teeth in the upper jaw; two broad plates of small teeth, as if 

 paved, on the vomer; no natatory bladder. All the species are from 

 Europe. 



M. barbatus, L.; LeRoucjet; Bl. 348, 2. (The Red Surmul- 

 let). Profile nearly vertical; of a fine lively red ; celebrated for the 

 flavour of its flesh, and for the amusement it afforded the Romans, 

 who took much pleasure in contemplating the changes of colour it 

 undergoes when dying*; most common in the Mediterranean. 



M. surmuletus, L. ; Bl. 57. (The Surmullet). Larger; profile 

 less vertical; longitudinally striped with yellow; most common in 

 the ocean. 



Upeneus, Cuv. 



Have teeth in both jaws, but very often none in the palate; a small 

 spine on the operculum; four rays in the branchiae; a natatory bladder. 

 All the species are from the seas of hot countries-}-. 



FAMILY II. 



OF THE ACANTHOPTERYGIANS, 



The Mailed Cheeks, contains a numerous series of fishes, to which 

 the singular appearance of their head, variously mailed and protected, gives 

 a peculiar aspect that has always caused them to be arranged in special 

 genera, although they have many close affinities with the Perches. Their 

 common character consists in having the suborbital bones more or less 

 extended over the cheek and articulated behind with the preoperculum. 

 The Uranoscopus is the only one of the preceding family which has any 

 thing like it, but the suborbital bone of the latter, although very broad, 

 is connected behind with the temporal bones, and not with the preoper- 

 culum. 



Linnaeus divided them into three genera, Trigla, Cottus, and Scor- 

 PvENA ; it has been found necessary, however, to subdivide them, and to 

 add some of his Gasterostei. 



* Senec, Quest, Nat, III, c. xviii. 



f Mullus vittatus, Cm., Lacep., Ill, xiv, 1; Kussel, II, 158; — M. Russelii, Cuv., 

 Russel, II, 157; — M. bifasciatus, Lacep., Ill, xiv. 2; — M. trifasciatus, Id., Ill, xv, 

 1, or M. multibandv, Quoy et Gaym., Voy. Freycin., pi. 59, f. 1, and several other 

 species described in the third Vol. of our Icthyology. 



