io MARINE AND FRESHWATER FISHES 



a long voyage has become foul with Barnacles {Lepadidce), 

 and follow her from the high seas to her port of destination. 

 The habit just recorded of the Stone Bass has won for it 

 from the Devonshire fishermen the local title of the " Wreck- 

 fish." The colour of the species is usually a greyish- 

 brown or stone colour, irregularly marked with spots and 

 blotches of a lighter hue. The last fish on the list of the 

 British Percidae is the Dentex {Dentex vulgaris), No. 6 ; this 

 is likewise only an occasional wanderer to our shores, finding 

 its true home in more southern latitudes ; in both shape and 

 in its bright colouration, which consists of various tints of 

 gold, silver, and light blue, it very closely resembles certain 

 members of the Sparidcz or Sea-Breams. The long conical 

 so-called canine teeth, developed to the number of four in 

 each jaw, are highly characteristic of this species, and in the 

 larger examples, ranging from three to four feet long — one 

 exposed for sale in the Falmouth fish market in August 

 185 1 measured no less than fifty-six inches — must constitute 

 very formidable weapons of defence. 



FAMILY II.— The Red Mullets {Mullidce). 



Fish of an elongated shape ; the branchiostegal rays, 

 supporting the gill membrane, four in number ; two long 

 cirrhi or barbels, connected with the hyoid apparatus, 

 dependent from the lower jaw ; scales large, entire or 

 very finely serrated ; dorsal fins, two in number, widely 

 separated. 



The Red Mullet or Surmullet (Mullus barbatus), No. 8, 

 with its apparent variety M. sunmdettis, is the only British 

 representative of this distinct little family group, which 

 includes some forty additional species, for the most part 

 inhabitants of the tropics. The characteristic red or brilliant 



