THE SPANISH BREAM. 203 



Genus (PAGE US. > — Front teeth conical, sharp and nu- 

 merous ; molars rounded. 



/ Pagellus erythrinus.*! — The Spanish Bream. 



Specific Character. — Origin of the lateral line slightly bent. (See 

 Plate XXVII.) 



Description. — From a specimen nineteen inches in length. Body 

 rather deep, of an oval form ; sides compressed, covered with large 

 scales finely ciliated at their margins ; under jaw the longest ; oper- 

 culum and preoperculum entire, without denticulations or spines. 

 Colour of the body, pale silvery red ; dorsal and caudal fin rose-red ; 

 ventral and anal fins paler ; in front of the eye and on the lower 

 half of the preoperculum, metallic grey ; space between the eyes 

 reddish-brown. Dorsal fin commencing over the base of the pecto- 

 rals, and ending in a line- over the last ray but two of the anal fin j 

 first eleven rays strong and spiny, the remaining ones soft and flexible. 

 Anal fin commencing in a line under the last ray but seven of the 

 dorsal, and terminating a little behind the same fin ; ventrals situated 

 a little behind the base of the pectorals. Lateral line commencing 

 over the upper and posterior margin of the operculum, taking a slight 

 bend upwards, following the line of the back to the base of the tail ; 

 composed of sixty-seven scales. Pectoral fin long, the fourth ray 

 reaching to the first ray of the anal. Eyes small, placed nearer the 

 posterior margin of the operculum than to the point of the upper 

 jaw ; anterior part of the orbit situated considerably behind the angle 

 of the mouth ; cheeks covered with scales ; no scales before the eyes 

 or on the posterior-inferior part of the preoperculum. First three 

 rays of the anal fin spinous, the second spine much the stoutest and 

 shorter than the third ; the rest branched and flexible. Caudal fin 

 deeply forked, the middle ray about one-third the length of the 

 longest ray ; the intervening membrane covered with small scales, 

 to the end of the rays. Teeth numerous in both jaws, rather more so 

 on the lower ; those in the first row in front, sharp and conical, those 

 behind, fine and thickly set ; the molars rounded, arranged in two 

 rows in the lower jaw, and in three or more rows in the upper. 

 Number of fin rays — 



D. 23 ; P. 15 ; A. 12 ; V. 6 ; C. 17 ; Branchial rays 6. 



This fish is said to be very abundant in the Mediterranean, 

 and even enters the Atlantic, advancing pretty far north. It 



* Pagellus erylhrinus, Cuv., Y;n\. .Ten. 



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