^40 
COMMON SEA BEEAM. 
One of the angry fishermen had taken the offending toad with 
him on his return; and he threw it with some exclamation into 
the house of the supposed agent of the evil one. It was during 
a war with France; and presently afterwards this man with 
others was taken prisoner hy the enemy. In an attempt to 
escape he fell before the balls of his guard, and he was the 
only one that did so. 
The Bream feeds on small fishes, crustacean animals, and 
sea-weeds, and it takes a bait freely; but it makes only a low 
price in the market; and when abundant I have known it sold 
for two shillings and sixpence the hundredweight. This un- 
worthy price, however, is not a criterion of its true value for 
the table; lor it is by no means to be disregarded as food, 
and Ilisso speaks favourably of it. But soon after it is caught 
it loses its freshness, and therefore will not bear that slow 
carriage which has been usual to a distant market. The rail- 
road will remove that difficulty, and convey a palatable food 
of moderate price to places at which before it was unknown. 
DENTITION OF THE COMMON SEA BREAM. 
A.— tipper jaw, within. E.— Tinder jaw, within. 
C. — Outside, side view. 
