128 SALT-WATER FISHES 



has for this view is not explained in his book,* where he 

 merely says, " M. surmuletus being probably the female." 

 This sexual view of the two forms of red mullet does not, 

 however, appear to have received later support, for the striped 

 form appears to have bred by itself in a tank at Naples, and 

 to have produced larger eggs and young than the other. 



Of the actual food of the red mullet we do not know 

 much, and it can only be surmised that the fish feeds on soft 

 substances, since its teeth are exceedingly feeble, and its 

 manner of routing in the gravel or mud with its barbels 

 suggests such material. Gdnther mentions that some of the 

 family enter brackish water to feed on the animalculas in the 

 weeds, but whether specific allusion is made to our fish is 

 not quite clear from the context. 



* See Introduction to the Study of Fishes, p. 404. 



