GRAY MULLETS. 
337 
THE GOLDEN MULLET. 
MUGIL AURATUS. 
Fig. 89. 
Adipose membrane round the eyes only slightly developed. Height of the upper lip at most “ about \ 13 (6"3 — 
7'1 %) of the total length of the head , 11 — 12 x j 2 % of the length of the head behind the eyes , about 24 % {22’ 2 
— 24' 2 %) of the length of the snout , iff — 22 % of the breadth of the mouth or 20 — 23 % of the length of the 
lower jaw. No tubercles on the surface of the upper lip. Length of the snout about 1 / 2 {50 — 52' 3 %) of the length 
of the head behind the eyes , which measures about 12 % {IT 7 — 12'4 %) of the length of the body , 57 % {50‘ 7- 
57' 7 %) of the total length of the head , 57 1 / 2 — 65 l f % of the greatest depth of the body or 27 1 f % {27' 3 - — 
27' 7 %) of the distance between the first dorsal fin and the tip of the snout. Length of the lower jaw less than 
56 % {54 — 55 x f %) of the length of the head behind the eyes , of which the breadth of the mouth measures less 
than 61 % {54 — 60'2 %). Breadth of the interorbital space at most about 78 % {72'2 — 77' 8 %) of the length of 
the head behind the eyes. Length of the head as a rule distinctly less than 24 % {22'4 — 23"3 %) of the length of 
the body minus the caudal fin or than 49 % {48 — 48‘6 %) of the distance between the first dorsal fin and the tip 
of the snout. Least depth of the tail less than 75 % {68 — 7.3*6' %) of the length of the head behind the eyes and 
at most about 5fi % {48‘1 — 53' 5 %) of the length of the pectoral fins , which measures at least 16 x j % % {16' 7 — 
17'5 %) of the length of the body or 1 / 2 {50'3 — 50'6 %) of the distance between the ventral fins and the tip of 
the snout. Base of the second dorsal fin more than 3 / 4 {78 — 105 l j 2 %) of the base of the anal fin, than 3 / 5 {66 — 
69 %) of the length of the head behind the eyes or than 36 % (37*5 — 39' 8 °/o) of the total length of the head. 
Length of the ventral fins at most about 2 / s {62 1 j 2 — 68 %) of that of the pectoral fins. Middle groove of the roof 
of the pharynx continued forward — though less marked , shallower and broader than in the preceding species — 
in the roof of the palate , where , posteriorly at least , it is bounded by a longitudinal , rounded elevation on each 
side. Tongue also { in front at least ) less sharply carinated than in the preceding species. ITind extremity of the 
preorbital bone obliquely truncate, with the lower corner rounded. Hind {lower) extremity of the maxillary bones, 
when the mouth is closed, entirely hidden or only a small portion of it externally visible. Greatest breadth of 
the chin-space more than half the breadth of either of the branches of the lower jaw at the hind extremity. 
Fig. 89. Magi l auratus from Holmestrand (Christiania Fjord), taken on the 15th of June, 1880. 1 / 3 of the natural size. The original in 
the possession of the Museum of Christiania. 
R. hr. 6; D. 4 2 + 7; A. 3 / g ; P. 1 1. 2 + 16 1. 17; V. V - ; j 6'i/n. Mugil auratus , Itisso, Ichth. Nice, p. 344; Hist. Nat. Eur. 
C. «+12 +x; Squ. tin. lat. 47 — 49 * & ; Hu. tr. 13 — 14 c . Mir., tom. 3, p. 390; Bonap., Fn. Ital., Pesci, tab. No. 92; 
“ In the specimens before us, which measure between 25 and 45 cm. in length. 
6 42 — 45, according to Gunther. 
c 14- — 15, according to Moreau. 
43 
Scandinavian Fishes. 
