428 MUGILIDuE. 



3 to 5 spines, the first two or three close together at the base ; anal fin opposite to the 

 posterior dorsal, with 3 feeble spines. Vertebrae 24 (12 + 12). 



Three of the Mediterranean species are here described and may be distinguished 

 by the following characters : — 



A much developed adipose eyelid, covering a considerable part of the 



eye ; a long free scale above the axil ; pectoral fin two-thirds to 



three- fourths the length of the head 1. M. ceplialus, L. 



A mere rudiment of adipose eyelid ; a long free scale above the axil ; 



pectoral fin three-fifths to two-thirds the length of the head ... 2. M. capito, Cuv. 

 A mere rudiment of adipose eyelid ; no free scale above the axil ; 



pectoral fin three-fourths to once the length of the head .... 3. M. auratus, Risso. 



The Grey Mullets are well-known for their agility and their habit of making 

 constant leaps out of the water. 



Dr. J. C. Mitchell, in his Report on the Edible Fishes of Lake Menzaleh (Cairo, 

 1895, Svo), remarks that of the saltwater fishes of Egypt the Grey Mullets are the 

 most important. In numbers they probably exceed all other fishes excepting Tilapia 

 nilotica. Three species are found at Damietta, known by the names of Bouri 

 (M. cephalus), Tobar (if. capito), and Garan (M. auratus) respectively. The 

 first-named is the largest. All the Mullets spawn in the sea and it is said that the 

 annual migration of the Bouri takes place between the months of May and November 

 inclusive. 



"The Grey Mullets," Dr. Mitchell says, "are sociable and move about in large 

 shoals, thus rendering their capture somewhat easy. Bouri are to be met with in all 

 portions of the lake, but seem to frequent more especially the deeper parts and those 

 undergrown with Buppia maritima. There they may be seen in hundreds, leaping 

 clear of the water to a height of a metre or more and alighting three or four metres 

 from the point of emergence, to continue their performance several times before they 

 again seek the depths of the lake. 



" It occasionally happens that several leap into a boat which may be sailing through 

 one of these shoals. When they are about to leave the lake to spawn, both sexes 

 congregate in large shoals in the proportion of from four to five males to one female. 

 Their energy seems now devoted to the great object of their lives, for no longer is it 

 expended in saltatory evolutions and even their natural wariness is diminished. At 

 this season they fall an easy prey to the fishermen, who, apprised of their approach 

 to the sea, await an opportunity of filling their nets. 



" Grey Mullet are not, by any means, clean feeders. Any garbage or decomposing 

 organic matter is eagerly devoured. Numbers are found feeding on sewage in the bay 

 to the east of Matarieh, the natural cesspool of the town. Notwithstanding this 

 habit, they are much esteemed as food, their flesh is firm and flaky though somewhat 

 oily, and it is not wanting in flavour when properly cooked. 



