CLASS Y. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 
439 
THE GREAT WEEVER. 
Genus MULLUS : Mullu 
This includes several species, among which, is the Dusky Serkanus or Duskt Perch, >S'. gigcts^ 
common in the Mediterranean, and occasionally found on the shores of jSTorthern Europe ; it 
weighs from twenty to forty pounds ; its flesh is in some estimation as food. 
The Stone Bass, *S'. Couchii^ is noted for following pieces of drift wood, which it finds in the 
sea ; it is rare, but is sometimes taken on the British coasts. 
The Groper, S. erythrogaster^ is two to three feet long ; olive-brown above, red beneath. It 
is brought into the markets along our Atlantic coast, but its flesh is tough and little prized. 
Genus CEx^TRARCHUS : Centrarchus. — To this belong a number of small fishes, as the 
Fresh- Water Bass, C. ceneus, Black Fresh- Water Bass, C. fasciatus, &c. 
Genus TJiACHINXJS : Trachinus. — This includes the Great Weever, T. Draco^ called Sting- 
Bull, Sea-Cat, Chanticleer, &c., in Eng- 
land. It is about twelve inches long, 
lives in deep water, and is noted for in- 
flicting serious wounds with its spines if 
carelessly handled. The flesh is good. 
Another species is the Lesser Weever, 
T. viiJera : both are common in Euro- 
pean seas. 
-This includes several species, called Mullets, greatly esteemed 
by epicures. In ancient Rome enormous 
prices were paid for them ; one weighing five 
or six pounds was sometimes sold for two hun- 
dred dollars ; the Striped Red Mullet, M. 
surmuletus, weighs from two to six pounds ; 
at some seasons it is abundant, and again it is 
scarce. It appears in the London markets 
throughout the year. It feeds at great 
depths, and is aided in its search for food by 
two long feelers depending from the lower 
jaw. It is generally taken with the trawl-net. There are other foreign species. The American 
mullets belong to the genus Mugil, and will be hereafter noticed. 
Genus SPHYR^'ENA : Sphyrcena. — To this belongs the Common Sphyrj^na, 8. vulgaris : it 
is two to three feet long, of a shiny bronzed or bluish-black color. The fluid called Essence 
Orie?it, used in the manufacture of artificial pearls, is prepared from the scales of this fish, 
together with the minute silvery particles of the air-bladder. This manufacture is carried on 
extensively at Rome. The body of the pearls is of alabaster ; these are dijDped in the fluid, and 
when dried have all the shining gloss of true pearls. 
THE SCI^NID^. 
This family embraces many species of large, powerful, and raiDacious flshes. 
Genus SCI^NA : Scicena. — To this belongs the Maigre, S. aquila, four to six feet long, found 
U^^7f4d^ in the European Avaters, and com- 
mon in the Mediterranean. It 
swims in shoals, each uttering a 
grunting noise. It was greatly es- 
teemed by the epicures of ancient 
Rome. ^Yhen caught by the fish- 
ermen, its struggles are so vio- 
lent as sometimes to knock a man 
down. The bones of the ear are 
very large, and were formerly sup- 
osed to be capable of curing the colic in persons to whom they were presented. Hence they 
ere called Colic-Stones, and were even set in gold and worn as amulets. 
THE STRIPED RED MU1.LET. 
THE MAIGRE, 
