438 GREY MULLET. Class IV. 



Oppian had a good opportunity of examining 

 these fishes, for they swarm during some sea- 

 sons on the coasts of the Mediterranean. Near 

 Martigues, in the south of France, abundance 

 of mullets are taken in wears made of reeds 

 placed in the shallows. Of the milts of the 

 males, which are there called Alletants, and of 

 the roes of the females, which are called Botar, 

 is made Botargo. The materials are taken out 

 entire, covered with salt for four or five hours, 

 then pressed a little between two boards or 

 stones, washed, and at last dried in the sun for 

 thirteen or fourteen days. * 



This fish was sometimes made the instrument 

 of a horrible punishment for unfortunate gal- 

 lants. It was in use both at At hens f and at 

 Rome ; but we doubt much whether it was a 

 legal one : for we rather suspect it was inflicted 

 instantaneously by the injured and enraged 

 husband, at a season when 



. Furor arma ministrat. 



Juvenal seems to speak of it in that light as 

 well as Horace : the former, relating the revenge 



* Mr. Willughby s notes during his travels. Vide Harris's 

 Col. Voy. ii. 721. 



*f Legilus Atheniensium adulteri ev sgyco deprehensi poena 

 fait pccfzvoSivtris. Raphani loco utehantur nonnunquam mu- 

 gile pisce, interdum scorpione. Causauboni animadvers. in 

 Athenaeum, lib. i. 



