SEA-BREAMS. 
97 
them dreadfully. Being a swift swimmer, it finds 
abundant prey, and soon attains to a considerable 
size. Willoughby observes, that small fishes of 
this species are rarely taken ; and the same cir- 
cumstance has been mentioned by later writers. 
During the winter it prefers deep waters ; but in 
the spring, or about May, it quits this retreat, 
and approaches the entrance of great rivers, where 
I it deposits its spawn between the crevices of 
I stones and rocks. 
The fisheries for this kind of Sparus are 
carried on upon an extensive scale in the warmer 
i parts of Europe. In the estuaries of Dalmatia 
and the Levant, the capture of this fish is an 
j object of material consideration, both to the in- 
i' habitants generally as a wholesome and palatable 
I food when fresh, and to the mercantile interest of 
those countries as an article of commerce. They 
i prepare the fish, according to ancient custom, by 
j cutting it in pieces, and packing it in barrels with 
I vinegar and spices, in which state it will keep 
perfectly well for twelve months.” 
3. The Caniharina contain but a single genus, 
in which the teeth are numerous, minute, and 
I conical, placed in several rows ; those of the outer 
row larger and more curved than the others. Of 
this limited group, England possesses one species, 
the Black Sea-bream {CantJiarus lineafMs, Mont.), 
which is by no means uncommon. 
4. The Obladina have the foremost range of 
teeth compressed, placed close together, and armed 
I with a cutting edge, which is more or less 
notched. This group contains only fifteen species, 
! several of which, found in the Mediterranean, 
‘ are distinguished by the metallic lustre of their 
H 
