38 NEW SOUTH WALES 
III,—Fam. MULLIDA. 
Body rather low, slightly compressed, covered with thin scales, with 
or without extremely fine serrations; two long movable barbels. 
Lateral line continuous. Mouth, like the last family; cleft rather 
short ; teeth very feeble. Eye like the last. Two short dorsal fins 
remote from one another, the first with feeble spines ; anal like the 
second dorsal, ventrals with one spine and five rays. Pectorals short, 
Branchiostegals four, stomach siphonal. 
This family is known as “Red Mullets.” They are marine fishes, 
but many species enter into brackish water. They are more tropical 
than temperate, but extend into both seas. None attain to a large size, 
but all are very highly esteemed as food. They are caught with the net. 
We have in Port Jackson Upeneoides vlamingii, Cuv. and Val. a red 
fish with a violet spot on each scale, and violet oblique streaks on the 
cheeks ; and Upeneus porosus, a red fish with two silvery streaks be- 
tween the eye and the mouth, parts above the lateral line darker, and 
the spinous dorsal blackish. The differences between these two genera 
is that Upeneoides has teeth on both jaws, on the vomer and palatine 
bones, and Upeneus has teeth in both jaws in a single series and none 
on the palate. The name of this family is a source of much confusion. 
It is derived from the Latin word Mullus, which in the form of 
“Mullet” we apply to the well-known fishes of quite a different family, 
the Mugilide. Another fish to which the term “Red Mullet” is 
applied is of the family Cottide or Gurnards. The Greek for these 
fishes ‘is “ T'rigle,” which Oppian derives from their breeding thrice a 
year. The Italian name is still “ Zriglia.” An extraordinary value was 
set on these fish by the Romans in the time of the Caesars. This was 
Mullus barbatus. Pliny, Seneca, Horace, Juvenal-bear witness to the 
extravagance of the wealthy of those times with regard to this fish. 
Nothing was considered more entertaining than to watch the change of 
its beautiful colours when expiring, and then when dressed it was the 
grand dish of the feast. 
IV.—Fam. SPARIDA or SEA BREAMS, 
Body compressed, oblong, covered with scales, the serrature of which 
is sometimes absent. Mouth and eye like the last. Either cutting 
teeth in front or molar teeth on the side of the jaws, palate generally 
without teeth. Dorsal single with nearly equal spinous and soft portions. 
Three spines on anal. Lower rays of pectoral branched, with one excep- 
tion (Haplodactylus). Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays, 
This is a most important family of fishes, which though generally 
small are nearly all useful. They are divided into four groups, from the 
form of the teeth. In the first the teeth are incisors in front of the jaws 
(black-fish of Port Jackson). In the second the teeth are the same, but 
the pectoral rays are not branched. In the third there is a single series of 
incisors in front, with several series of rounded molars in the sides. In 
the fourth the jaws have conical teeth in front, molar teeth on the side, 
especially adapted for crushing small shells, crabs, &c. This division 
includes our most abundant market fish, such as black bream, common 
bream, schnapper, &c. 
