SURMULLETS. 
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SURMULLET, 
the Striped Surmullet {Mullus surmuletus^ Linn.), 
and is found in our fish-markets throughout the 
year, though in greatest abundance during the 
summer .months. It is commonly about ten inches 
or a foot in length, and is rarely known to exceed 
fourteen inches. Its form and general appearance 
will be recognised from the accompanying en- 
graving, but it should be seen alive, or at least 
just dead, to convey a notion of its beauty, which 
depends on its evanescent hues. The ground- 
Genus Mullus. (Linn.) 
The European Surmullets are distinguished by 
having the characters already enumerated more 
strongly developed ; the head is very abrupt, the 
profile nearly vertical, the gill-cover is smooth, 
and destitute of any spine ; the teeth on the palate 
and in the lower jaw very minute. 
Of the two species which form this genus, both 
of which are marked in catalogues as British, one 
I is as common as the other is rare. The former is 
