218 
RED MULLET. 
eacli usually may be red, we gather from the words of Ovid 
that its hue is not commonly the same. That of the Surmullet 
we know to be lively in a high degree, but of the plain red 
species the poet says, — 
“Squalus tenui suffnsus sanguine Mullus;" 
“The dull-coloured Mullet that has a slight tint of blood shed over it;” 
an observation supported by Willoughby, who says the colour 
is a dull olive yellow, except when the scales are lost, when 
it becomes more decidedly red. It should be added, however, 
that in the edition of Aldus the word ‘squamas’ is substituted 
for ‘squalus,’ as if the scales were suffused with the tint of 
blood. 
But a more positive evidence of their being distinct is 
found in the general characters of form and relative situation 
of the fins. By reference to figures, and especially to that 
of Willoughhy, which, for want of an opportunity to di-aw 
from a fresh example, we have thought it best to copy, — as 
well as to his description, — ^we find the head descending 
much more abruptly from before the eyes to the jaws. The 
first dorsal fin also is further in advance of the pectorals, 
while the ventrals are placed further behind. At fuU. growth 
it is smaller than the Surmullet, and, while more abrupt hi 
front, the hinder part of the body grows sensibly more slender. 
Fill rays— first dorsal seven, (the first very high,) second 
dorsal nine, caudal seventeen, anal seven, pectoral sixteen, 
ventral six. 
This species anciently received the designation of Barhatus, 
or the Bearded, in contrast with another fish, supposed to be 
nearly allied to it, and which by way of further distinction, 
received the name of Mullus imherbis, or the Unbearded 
Mullet, as being destitute of those appendages to the jaws. 
Modern naturalists have judged more correctly of the natural 
affinities of these fishes, and in consequence have placed the 
latter hi another genus; which, however different in many 
respects from the true Mullets, they have, with some incon- 
sistency, agreed to call by the name of Ttiglu, which anciently, 
and for an assigned reason, was only applied to the former 
fishes. But it is proper we should add that the error of re- 
