MULLUS. SURMULLET. 



Generic Character. 



Ctfpw£compressum, declive, 



squamosum. 

 Os cirratum. 



Membr: branch: triradiata. 

 Corpus squamis magnis sub- 

 deciduis. 



Head compressed, scaly. 



Mouth bearded. 

 Gill-membrane three-rayed. 

 Body covered with large 

 subdeciduous scales. 



RED SURMULLET. 



Mullus Ruber. M. cprpare rubra. 

 Surmullet with red body. 

 Mullus barbatus. Ian. 



ThE red Surmullet is principally found in the 

 Mediterranean and Northern seas, where it arrives 

 at the length of twelve or fifteen inches : its colour 

 is an elegant rose-red, tinged with olive-colour on 

 the back, and of a silvery cast towards the abdomen: 

 the scales are thin and easily separated, and when 

 rubbed off, the skin itself appears of a brighter red. 

 The Surmullet is a fish of a strong and active nature, 

 swimming briskly, and feeding principally on the 

 smaller fishes, worms, and sea-insects. It is gene- 

 rally considered as a very delicate fish, and is cele- 

 brated for having been the fashionable object of 

 Roman luxury, and for which such enormous sums 



