SNAPPERS. 153 



and the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and are popu- 

 larly known as Sargo, Saragu, Sar, names derived from the word 

 " Sargus," by which these fishes were well known to the ancient 

 Greeks and Romans. In some of the Mediterranean species of 

 Sparidse hermaphroditism is of normal occurrence. 



The well-known " Pagro " of the Mediterranean is Pagrus 

 vulgaris, 596, an important food fish, found also off Madeira and 

 the Canary Islands. The Snapper, Pagrus unicolor (fig. 68 ; Snapper. 

 597, skeleton) of the seas of Australia and New Zealand is con- 

 sidered very good eating, and attains a length of three feet and a 



Fig. 68. — Snapper, Pagrus vnicohi 



weight of 20 lbs. Pagrus argyrops of the coasts of the United 

 States is an important food-fish, and is known as the Scup, Porgy, 

 or Mishcup. Another species of Pagrus is the famous Red Tai 

 {Pagrus major) of Japan, a crimson fish which is as much a 

 national emblem of that land as the rising sun arid the 

 chrysanthemum. 



The Gilt-head or Dorade, Pagrus auratus, 605, and fig. 69, is a Gilt-head, 

 common food-fish of the Mediterranean, and is occasionally taken 

 off the south coast of England. It was one of the fishes that were 

 kept in captivity by the ancient Romans. The fish is called 

 " Gilt-head" because of the brilliant golden spot, band, or 

 crescent between the two eyes ; the name Dorade, sometimes spelt 

 Daurade, is clearly derived from the Latin "aurura," gold, and 



