I 
254 
The Hifiory of ANIMALS, 
50se 
Sparus varius macula nigricante in medio latere , dentibus qua- 
tuor majoribus . ' 3 Cl)Z 
The variegated Sparus , with a black fpot in the middle of the 
fide, and with four large teeth . 
Th'o head of this fpecies is large, and the coverings of the gills are befet with final! 
but firm feales: the mouth is moderately large, and there are four remarkably large 
teeth j the lips fall over them however, and perfectly cover them, when the mouth 
is doled : there are other lower teeth in the fauces, but the palate and the tongue are 
fmooth: the eyes are large ; the apertures of the noflrils are double, and very confpi- 
cuous: the back is elevated pretty high ; the belly is flat; the fides have each a large 
black fpot in their middle : the back fin has twenty-three rays ; the pe&oral fins have 
each fifteen lays j the ventral fins have fix rays each; the pinna ani has twelve, and 
the tail is a little forked : the whole body of the fifh is variegated with an elegant ad¬ 
mixture of colours, but the fpots on the fides are very diftindt. 
This fpecies is frequent in the Mediterranean, and is caught alfo, fometimes, on the 
coafts of France ; the an dents were very well acquainted with it. Ariftotle, Oppian, 
and Athenaeus call it ; Ovid calis it Menerela; almofl all the other Latin wri¬ 
ters, Masna and Masnais; Gaza, Alec. The Italians call it Maenola. 
Sparus macula nigricante in utroque latere medio, pinnis 
peEloralibus caudaque rubris . 
The Sparus, with a black fpot in the middle of each fide, 
and with the peEloralfins and tail red\ 
The head is not very large; it is of a comprefled figure and obtufe ; the eyes are large 5 
the teeth are acute and rounded, and the lips flefhy and thick: the noflrils have each a 
double aperture ; the lower one is larger and rounded, the upper oblong and narrow : 
the back is elevated, and the belly fomewhat flatted ; the fides are prominent and flefhy, 
and have on the middle of each a large black fpot: the pedoral fins are fhort and ob- 
tufe, and of a bright red colour; the tail is alfo of the fame bright red, and is forked. 
This fpecies is frequent in the Mediterranean ; the antients were well acquainted 
with it. Ariftotle and Oppian call it Smaris; and from them the Latin writers in ge¬ 
neral call it alfo Smaris and Maris. Charleton calls it Smaris et Maris Leucomasnides; 
Gefner calls it Msena Candida five Smaris; and Pliny and Martial, and with them fome 
other of the Romans, Cerrus; the Venetians call it Geroli or Gerroli ; the Maflilians, 
Gerres. 
Sparus maxilla fuperiore longiore, lineis utrinque duodecim 
nigris, tranfverfis, parallelis. 'SDIjt 
The Sparus, with the upper jaw longefi, and with twelve 
parallel, tranfverfe black lines on each fide . N 
This is a very fingularly marked fpecies : the head is large and fomewhat com- 
prefled ; the roftrum is acute, and the upper jaw is fomewhat longer than the under: 
the teeth are fharp and rounded ; the lips are thick and flefhy, and compleatly cover 
them, when the mouth is clofed : the back is elevated ; the belly is fomewhat flats the 
fides are prominent, and are beautifully variegated each with twelve black lines, run¬ 
ning parallel to one another in a tranfverfe direction: the back fin has twenty-three 
rays; the pedoral fins have fourteen rays each"; the ventral fins have each fix rays, and 
the pinna ani has thirteen : the tail is forked. 
This fpecies is frequent in the Mediterranean, as well as in the Archipelago, and 
many other feas; the antients were well acquainted with it; they not only know it at 
their tables, but ufed it’s figure in their ornaments of many kinds. Ariftotle, Athenae- 
us, and Euftathius call it Moppvp <&> } Oppian, Mep^uA©-* • Salvian calls it Mormylus; and 
Ovid, Mormyr. Gaza calls it Mormur, and mod of the other Latin writers, Mormy- 
rtis; the Italians call it Mormillo; the Venetians, Mormiro; and the French, Mor¬ 
eno and Morrne. 
1 Sparus 
