170 PISCES. 



MuGiL, Lin. 



These fishes present so many peculiarities in their organization, 

 that they may be considered as forming a distinct family; their body 

 is almost cylindrical, covered with large scales, and furnished with 

 two separate dorsals, the first of which has but four spinous rays; 

 the ventrals are inserted a little behind the pectorals. There are six 

 rays in the branchiae; their head is somewhat depressed, and co- 

 vered with large scales or polygonal plates, their muzzle very short. 

 Their transverse mouth, in consequence of a prominence in the 

 middle of the lower jaw, which corresponds with a depression in the 

 upper one, forms an angle, the teeth being excessively tenuous, and 

 frequently almost imperceptible. Their pharyngeal bones, highly 

 developed, give an angular form to the opening of the oesophagus, 

 similar to that of the mouth, which only permits fluids or very small 

 matters to pass into the stomach, notwithstanding which, this sto- 

 mach terminates in a sort of fleshy gizzard, analogous to that of 

 Birds: they have but few pyloric appendages, but the intestine is 

 long and doubled. 



They resort to themouths of rivers in large troops, and are con- 

 tinually leaping out of the water; the European seas produce several 

 species hitherto very imperfectly ascertained; their flesh is esteenrt- 

 ed.(l) 



M. cephaliis, Cuv. (The Common Mullet.) Distinguished 

 from all the other species of Europe by its eyes, which are half 

 covered by two adipose veils, adliering to the anterior and pos- 

 terior edge of the orbit; by the fact, that when the mouth is 

 closed, the maxillary is completely hidden under the sub-orbital; 

 and by the base of the pectoral being surmounted by a long and 

 carinated crest. The nasal openings are separated from each 

 other, and the teeth are tolerably prominent. It is the largest 

 and best of the Mediterranean species. We have not seen it on 

 the Atlantic coast of Europe, but its characters are visible in 

 several species of India and of America. (2) Another species 



143, is at least very closely allied, and several new species to be described in our 

 Icthyology. 



(1) Linnaeus and several of his successors have confounded all the European 

 Mullets under a single species, their Mugil cephalus. 



(2) America produces five or six species badly characterized and confounded 

 by Linn., under the name of M. alhula. Among tlie number is the M. Plumieri, 

 lil., become a Sphyraena in BI., Schn., p. UO, and the M. UneutuSy Mitch. The 

 true cephalus of the Mediterranean is found on the whole African coast. Add, of 

 species from India, the Bontah, Russel, II, 180, or the M. our. of Forsk., perhaps 

 the same as our ceplialus; — the Kunnesee, Id. 181; — M. corsyla, Buoh., pi. ix, 97. 



