Defer. 
Color, 
198 GIL T-HE-AD. Clafs IV, 
They are but a coarfe fth; nor did the Romans 
hold them in any efteem, except they had fed on 
the Lucrine oyfter. 
Non omnis laudem pretiumque AURATA meretur, 
Sed cui Jolus erit concha Lucrina cibus*, 
No praife, no price a Gilt-head e’er will take, 
Unfed with oyfters of the Lucrine lake. 
They grow to the weight of ten pounds : the form 
of the body is deep, not unlike that of a bream: 
the back is very fharp and of a dufky green color : 
the irides of a filvery hue: between the eyes is a 
femilunar gold color’d fpot, the horns of which 
point towards the head: on the upper part of the 
gills is a black fpot, beneath that another of purple. 
The dorfal fin extends almoft the whole length 
of the back, and confifts of twenty-four rays, the 
eleven firft fpiny, the others foft: the pectoral fins 
confift of feventeen foft rays; the ventral of fix 
rays, the firft of which is very ftrong and {piny : 
the anal fin of fourteen; the three firft fpiny. 
The tail is much forked. 
It takes its name from its predominant color; that 
of the forehead and fides being as if gilt, but the 
laft is tinged with brown. 
* Martial. lib. xiite ep. go« 
JI. The 
