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YEM.OW SKULPIN. 
This fish is common in the Mediterranean, and must therefore 
have been known to the ancients, hut from their want of 
precision on subjects of natural history, it is not easy to 
pronounce whether it be the same with the species known to 
them by the name of CalUonymus, which is the term adopted 
by Linmeus as the designation of the genus in which the 
Yellow Skulpin is arranged. Some fish which bore this name 
is referred to by the Greek comic poet Aristophanes, as 
sufficiently known for popular allusion by the supposed property 
of possessing a large abundance of gall. It is also mentioned 
by Aristotle, and in later times by jElian. Pliny further tells 
us that with the Romans, in addition to the name of CalUonymus, 
it was known as the TJranoscopus, or Sky-gazer, because its 
eyes were on the top of the head, with their vision directed 
upward. This latter circumstance, in connection with the 
former name, which recognises the beauty of its appearance, 
may be supposed to point to the Yellow Skulpin, which 
answers^ to both these particulars; but if any doubt remains 
concerning it, we are not able to mention any other author 
of a remote date who has given an account by which it can 
be more definitely determined. 
Of the earlier writers of modern times we find that Jonston 
and Willoughby have copied into their works (from Rondeletius) 
the figures of a species which may have been intended for the 
Yellow Skulpin; but these representations cannot be quoted 
as a fair representation of the fish, since they shew the 
lengthened rays of the first dorsal fin as of equal extent; and 
it was only so late as about the middle of the seventeenth 
century that Dr. Tyson was able to remove the doubts con- 
cerning it as a species, and to shew that it was to be found 
also in Britain. And with us it is far from uncommon, 
although the habits of naturalists, rather than of the fish, have 
caused it to be regarded as rare. 
Willoughby and his friend Ray were accustomed to visit the 
markets in places they visited, for the purpose of obtaining 
examples of such fishes as were brought thither for sale; bu” 
it must happen that there are many sorts (as in our own 
country the Yellow Skulpin) which are not of sufficient value 
to be thus dealt with. Nor does the species now referred to 
frequently take a bait, which, however, is not caused by any 
