PERCIDvB OE PEEOHES. 131 



The Labrax.* 



THiim siumna ducebant, atque altiHum lanx, 

 Hunc pontes Tiberinos inter captus oatiUo. — Lucil. 



Ad^pa^, Lupus, Spigola, Bars, and Basse : the sub- 

 ject of all these Greek, Latin, Italian, French, and Eng- 

 lish synonyms, is a well-known fish. The Greek name 

 is of somewhat doubtful origin, and may be significant 

 of either one or other of the basse's two besetting sins 

 — violence or gluttony. The Latin name, lupus, is at 

 least clear, and accords perfectly with the acknowledged 

 character of the sea-wolft to whose account both public 

 award and Greek and Latiu graduses place such epithets 

 as ' daring,' ' greedy, ■" ' rapacious,' ' terrible,' and ' fierce,' 

 as appropriate and well deserved. The Romans, indeed, 

 changed the name of this favourite fish from lupus to 

 laneus ; a term intended to designate, not woolliness, 

 bnt whiteness of fibre. This fish was highly esteemed 

 amongst luxurious livers, both Attic and Roman, but 

 was not held everywhere in equal respect. Though born, 

 and in a great measure bred, at sea, it was only those 

 taken in fresh water which fetched fancy prices, f for 

 most rivers were thought to impart flavour and to im- 



* Centropoma lupus, Varro, de Be rustioa, lib. iii. cap. 1. Pliny, 

 Kb. ix. cap. 16, 17, 51, 54. Labrax, ^lian,ilib. i. p. 30 ; lib. 9-7 ; 

 lib. 10-2. Ath. Ub. 12, p. 310 ; lib. 14, p. 662. Opp. Hal. 2, 

 line 34, 253, etc. 



t There was a so-caUed water-sheep, 7rp6^aTov, which, feeding 

 in the same pastures with the wolf, would very often give rise to 

 a rehearsal of ^sop's fable, of the wolf and lamb on land. 



J This is at variance with the testimony of Eondolet, who pro- 

 nounces those caught at sea to be the finest in flavour next to 

 those bred in sea-ponds, and those which frequent rivers the poor- 

 est of any : but Eondolet's experience is not generally borne out 

 by modern amateurs. In some rivers this fish is StiU eagerly sought, 

 and the basse of Mr. Arnold's fresh-water stews at Guernsey are 

 said to be finer than any sea-fish. 



