230 
BECKER. 
Ireland also, but it is not mentioned in Thompson’s natural 
history of that country. Its habits are migratory, and its visits 
are confined to the summer and autumn, leaving us on the 
approach of colder -weather in the beginning of winter. It is 
a solitary fish, so that it is not usual to find more than one 
or two at once in a boat, and those only of the full growth: 
for it has never been our chance to obtain an individual in 
the earlier stage of its growth. Its residence is at the depth 
of several fathoms, where its food is like that of the other 
Sea Breams. The mussel appears to be a favomcite bait, but 
the smaller fishes, crustacean animals, and sea vegetables are 
eagerly devoured. 
This fish is found from fourteen to sixteen inches in length, 
aiid a usual weight is five or six pounds. The head and body 
compressed, sloping from the origin of the dorsal fin to the 
mouth; lips fleshy; jaws about equal; eyes rather small, lateral; 
nostrils near the eye, large, and open; scales on the body and 
gill-covers large. The body deep, narrow'er towards the tail. 
Dorsal fin, and also the anal, expanded towards their termi- 
nation; their posterior rays bound down, without much freedom 
of motion, and the skin at the sides is gathered up, so as to 
leave a considerable chink below. Lateral line rising in a 
gentle sweep, depressed near the termination of the dorsal and 
anal fins. Tail concave, pectoral pointed, ventrals large. 
Colour of the back bright red, -with a tint of pink, and 
sometimes of green before the dorsal fin. The red paler 
towards the tail; fins generally red, except the ventrals and 
anal, which are dusky. Iris yellow or red, sometimes with 
tints of green. 
Tia rays — dorsal nine, anal three. 
