ACANTHOPTERYGII. 115 



closely allied American species. The same country produces 

 another, 



Sph. barracuda, Cuv.j Catesb., II, pi. 1, f. 1. Which be- 

 comes much larger, and is nearly as much dreaded as the shark. 



Paralepis^ Cuv. 



Small fishes resembling the Sphyraenae, but whose second dorsal is 

 so small and frail that it has been considered as adipose.(l) 



MuLLuS; Lin. 



This genus is rather closely allied to the Percoides by several ana- 

 tomical and external details, though the species which compose it 

 present so many remarkable peculiarities that they might readily be 

 made to constitute a separate family. Their dorsals are far apart; 

 the entire body and opercula are covered with large scales which 

 are easily dislodged; the mouth is slightly cleft and but weakly 

 armed with teeth, and above all they are distinguished by two long 

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

 are divided into two subgenera. 



MuLLUs, properly so called. 



But three rays to the branchiae, operculum spineless, and no teeth 

 in the upper jaw; two broad plates of small teeth en pave, on the 

 vomer;(2) no natatory bladder. All the species are from Europe. 

 M. barbatus, L.j Le Rouget; 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 aff'orded the 

 Romans, who took much pleasure in contemplating the changes 

 of colour it undergoes when dying;(3) most common in the 

 Mediterranean. 



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

 file less vertical; longitudinally striped with yellow; most com- 

 mon in the ocean. 



Upeneus, Cuv. 

 Teeth in both jaws, but very often none in the palate; a small spine 



(1) Two or three small species described.by Hisso, 2d ed. f. 15 and 16, inhabit 

 the Mediterranean. 



(2) En pave, teeth formed like paving stones, and placed as in a pavement. 

 Am. Ed. 



(3) Senec, Quest., Nat., HI, c. xviii. 



