SPARIML 37 



Varieties. — Couch on September 2nd, 1843, obtained one of a shortened form, 

 13 inches long and 5|? high, probably due to spinal disease with which these fish 

 are not infrequently affected. Yarrell also figures an adult example in which the 

 premaxillary bones were absent. Although Spams pagrus, Bloch, is probably 

 intended for this fish, the eye is too small and the preorbital too deep. 



Names. — Common sea bream, sharp-toothed sea bream. Bed gilt head: Chad 

 (if young, Cornwall) : Boger (Cornw. half grown). 



In Ireland Murranroe and Barwin (county of Antrim) : Gunner ont he north- 

 west coast : carf, carp, and sea bream on the north-east : and Brazier on the 

 north. Brom y Mor, Welsh. Be zee-brasem, Dutch. Le Rousseau, French. 



Habits. — Prefers the vicinity of rocks and sea weeds, is very sensible to cold, con- 

 sequently in severe winters most of them retire to the deep sea beyond the reach of 

 fishermen, but return as the weather becomes warmer. Sometimes they congre- 

 gate in large numbers, frequently about the end of summer, when they have been 

 observed to rise to the surface and may be mistaken for pilchards. Couch records 

 how on one occasion 20,000 and on another 60,000 were caught in a season at one 

 time. Those of various sizes appear to keep together. They feed upon small fish, 

 Crustacea, and sea- weed. Mr. Dunn observes that in 1874 a vessel was wrecked 

 in Cornwall laden with wheat, the whole of which was lost in the sea. On fishing 

 soon after he found the stomachs of these fish full of wheat. They were plump 

 and in good condition. 



Means of capture. — Frequently taken with the haddock in Ireland, the bait being 

 the lug-worm, shell-fish (mussels, &c), and herring- fry, or a slice of mackerel. 



Breeding. — Towards the end of the year or in the winter months, as in January 

 the young are about 1 inch in length, but they do not come towards land until 

 early in the summer, when, and also through autumn, they abound. 



As food. — Not esteemed in England as they soon become stale and tainted : but 

 large numbers are disposed of throughout the midland counties : they salt badly. 

 Hardly esteemed in Belfast. Highly prized in the county of Down. 



Yarrell suggested the following mode of cooking these fish. When thoroughly 

 cleaned they should be wiped dry, but none of the scales removed. Then broiled, 

 frequently turning, and if the skin cracks flouring them to keep the outer case 

 entire. On the table the skin and scales turn off without difficulty, and the 

 muscle beneath, saturated with its own juices, will be found of good flavour. 



Habitat. — From the coasts of Scandinavia through the North Sea and North 

 Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean. 



In Great Britain this fish has a range from one extremity to the other, 

 abounding especially along the southern and western coasts, but decreasing 

 in numbers as we go north. In the Frith of Forth, Parnell only recorded 

 (1838) two specimens, and Smith (Ann. Nat. Hist. 1852, ix, p. 154) 

 remarks on a single example considering it very uncommon. But Mcintosh 

 observes that they are not rare in St. Andrew's Bay, and Edward, that 

 numbers appear annually off the coast of Banffshire, more abundant in some 

 seasons than in others, while in the Moray Frith, Harris (Zool. ix, 1851) says 

 " they are common and have vastly increased during the last 3 years ;" while in 

 1852 their numbers again augmented when, according to Gordon, they were 

 termed the siller-fish (Zool. 1852, p. 3458). In the Orkneys one specimen was 

 obtained by Dr. Duguid in Scalpa near Kirkwall (Baikie, Zool. 1853, xi, p. 3952). 



In Ireland, observes Thompson, they are common all round the coast. 



The example figured was received from Mr. Dunn of Mevagissey, it is 15 

 inches in length. They are taken up to 3 or 5 lb. weight. 



2. Pagellus bogaraveo, Plate XIV. 



Sparus bogaraveo, Briinn. Pise. Mass. p. 49; Lacep. iv, pp. Ill, 112 ; Risso, 

 Ich. Nice, p. 249. 



Pagrus bogaraveo, Risso, Eur. Merid. p. 359 ; Duhamel, Peches, Sect. 4, pi. i, f. 1. 

 Pagellus bogaraveo, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 196 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 480. 

 Spanish Bream, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, i, p. 235, pi. liii. 



