580 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
eyes, which are directed towards the sky, from ovpavos, the heavens, 
and aKoirea, I regard. From this peculiar arrangement, they can 
only see above them. They are closely connected with the cat-fish. 
Uranoscopus vulgaris (Fig. 887) belongs to the Mediterranean, and is 
remarkable for its thick cubical head and erect spiny dorsal fins. 
The Mullets (Mullus) have the body thick and oblong, the profile 
of the head approaching the vertical line ; scales large, two dorsal 
fins, widely separated — the rays of the first spinous, of the second, 
flexible; two cirri at the lower jaw. Two species are known, both 
inhabitants of our west and south-west coasts : the lied or Striped 
Fig. 387. Urunoscopu* vulgaris. 
Surmullet ( Mullus surmulus), and the Bed Mullet (M. barbatus ) . 
The first is a fine bright vermilion red, with three dominating yellow 
lines ; the throat, breast, ventral, and lower surface of the tail are 
white, slightly tinged with rose; the fins have their rays more or 
less red, the iris of the eyes a pale gold colour, just touched with red ; 
the head bears two barbels. This beautiful fish is plentiful in the 
Mediterranean and sometimes in the Channel, common in the gulfs 
of Gascony, and is frequently served on the table at Bordeaux and 
Bayonne, where it is known as the barbel ; its flesh is a little flaky, 
of an agreeable flavour, but less esteemed than the red mullet. 
The Bed Mullet (Mullus barbatus) is clothed in brilliant colour’s of 
