THE SEA-BREAM. 207 



an oval form, deep in proportion to its length ; sides compressed, 

 covered with large ciliated scales, producing a roughness on the sur- 

 face ; operculum and preoperculum entire, without spines or denti- 

 culations. Colour of the body reddish-grey ; dorsal and caudal fins 

 brownish-red ; ventrals and anal paler ; belly dull white ; space be- 

 tween the eyes reddish-brown, in front of the eyes and on the lower 

 border of the preoperculum metallic grey. Eye large, placed half 

 way between the tip of the upper jaw and the origin of the lateral 

 line ; lateral line commencing over the upper part of the operculum, 

 taking its course parallel to the curvature of the back to the base of 

 the tail, composed of about seventy-two scales. Dorsal fin com- 

 mencing over the posterior margin of the operculum, and ending in 

 a line with the last ray of the anal fin ; its spiny rays twelve in num- 

 ber, sharp and stout ; the first spine shortest, about half the length 

 of the second ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth the longest, the remainder 

 gradually decreasing in height to the commencement of the flexible 

 rays, which are longer than the terminating spiny rays ; anal fin cor- 

 responding with the flexible portion of the dorsal ; its three first 

 rays spiny, the rest soft ; pectorals and ventrals commencing in the 

 same line. (In Mr Yarrell's figure of this fish, the ventrals are 

 placed considerably before the base of the pectorals.) The fifth and 

 sixth rays of the pectorals the longest, reaching beyond the vent. 

 Tail forked, the middle ray not half as long as the longest ray in that 

 fin ; jaws nearly of equal length, the under rather the shorter ; teeth 

 fine and sharp in both jaws, smaller than in the two preceding spe- 

 cies, disposed in two or three rows in front ; molars small and round- 

 ed, placed far back, not easily seen, unless the jaws be widely ex- 

 panded. The intervening membranes of the caudal fin covered with 

 small thin scales. Number of fin rays — 



D. 24 ; P. 17 ; V. 6 ; A. 15 ; C. 17 ; Branchial rays 6. 



The sea-bream is one of the most common species in the 

 Mediterranean, and has been found to exist as far north as 

 off the coast of Denmark On the authority of Mr Couch, 

 M it is found on the west coast of England throughout the 

 year, but it is most abundant in the summer and autumn 

 months, and retreats altogether in severely cold weather. 

 The spawn is shed in the beginning of winter in deep wa- 

 ter ; and in January the chads, about an inch in length, 

 are found in the stomachs of large fish, taken at two or 

 three leagues from land. In summer, when from four to 



