232 
couch’s sea bream. 
the course of the lateral line. At the vent the body appeared 
as if constricted. Colour of the front and top of the head 
brownish red; of the back and fins as if formed by a mixture 
of lake and vermilion; the fins of the same colour, except the 
anal, which is pale yellow; sides pale red; belly whitish. Iris 
of the eye yellow. As the colours faded there appeared a 
yellow margin at the angles where the scales met. There was 
a gathering up at the termination of the dorsal and anal fins, 
as in the Becker, but less conspicuous, and more decidedly at 
the anal than the dorsal fin. The tail concave, but less regu- 
larly so than in most of the sparoid fishes. Jihird ray of the 
pectoral fin the longest. 
Fin rays — dorsal twelve firm and ten soft, pectoral thirteen, 
ventral four, anal three firm and eight soft. 
The remarkable shortness of the head, with the roundness 
and steepness in the declivity of the front, equality of the jaws, 
stoutness and interlocking of the teeth, and singular form of 
the chin, are sufficient to distinguish this species from every 
other recognised as British; and at the same time it so nearly 
agrees with the figure and description of Orphe, as given 
by Rondeletius, that I have little hesitation in believing it to 
be the same fish. The only difference 1 can find is, that he 
represents the vent as being very small; which is the contiary 
to what was perceptible in my example; but a vaiiety of 
circumstances will explain this slight discrepancy. 
Among ancient writers there appears to be much disagreement 
regarding this fish, but the difference of their accounts will be 
explained when we call to mind that with them seveial very 
different species bore the same name, and even that one so 
denominated — the Rud — is a fish of the fresh-water. Oppian 
appears to represent it as devouring shell-fish, which is not 
improbable when we take into account the form and solid 
structure of its grinding teeth; but he further states what 
would be highly remarkable if true; — ■ 
slow-dying Orfs, 
Whose bodies long will stubborn life retain. 
Eepeated wounds the tortured wretches feel, 
Yet dare the cruel hand and cutting steel; 
The parts disjoined and mangled as they lie, 
Still pant and move, and will at leisure die. 
