RED MULLETS AND SEA-BREAMS 
known, the European species 
is the most prized as a food- 
fish. Its fame, indeed, extends 
backwards to the time of the 
an.cient Romans, who sought 
far and wide for large speci- 
mens, paying ruinous prices 
for them. “ Then, as nowa- 
days,” writes Dr. Gunther, “it 
was considered essential for 
the enjoyment of this delicacy 
that the fish should exhibit 
the red colour of its integu- 
ment. The Romans brought 
it, for that purpose, living 
into the banqueting-room, 
and allowed it to die in the 
hands of the guests, the red 
colour appearing in all its Phoio ^ savUi.-Kent, f.z.s.} [Mu/orj-ons./ 
brilliancy during the death- BROWN SNAPPER 
struggle of the fish. i he The snappers are esteemed for the table 
fishermen of our times attain 
the same object by scaling the fish immediately after its capture, thus causing a permanent 
contraction of the chromatophores containing the red pigment.” 
Beneath the chin of the red mullets will be noticed two long finger-like processes ; these 
can be thrust forward and moved about, or laid back in a groove bet\ceen the sides of the 
lower jaw, and are used to rake about in the sand and gravel at the bottom of the sea 
to discover burrowing shrimps 
or worms. Even dead food 
they are said to feel with 
these barbels, as they are 
called, before biting. The 
red colour has been observed 
in the Marine Aquarium at 
Plymouth to become darker 
when the fish rise from the 
ground, and to pale away when 
they descend. 
Two forms of red mullet 
occur in European waters, but 
it is not yet finally settled 
whether they represent distinct 
Photo hf tf'. saviik-Keni, F.Z.S.] [MUford-^n.sea spccics. Tlic oiic is tlic plaiii 
RED SEA-BREAM Red MULLET.ofarichcarmine- 
Some species of sea-bream occasionally enter fresh-water red above and silvei'y white 
below ; the other the Striped 
Mullet, or Sur-mui,LET, which has a beautiful red colour on the back and sides, and from 
th ree to five bright yellow bands passing from head to tail. Till recently the striped form was 
regarded as the female of the plain red mullet, but many authorities incline to the view that 
the two are distinct species. 
The Sea-breams are fishes of the tropical and temperate regions, represented by a 
considerable number of species. Only one is at all abundant on the British coasts, and this 
