Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/105

Rh and caudal fin are frequently inclined upwards in a slight degree: and finally, there are in general a few scales on the basal part of the dorsal or dorsals, of which fins, as in the Percadæ, some genera have one much lengthened but continuous, others indented by a depression more or less deep, and others completely divided into two.

Some of the Maigres attain a great size, and some are adorned with rich colours and brilliant metallic reflections; but elegance of form is not, in general, one of their characteristics. Their flesh is highly esteemed for the table.

The head in this genus is large, and as it were inflated, supported by cavernous bones: there are two separated dorsal fins; the spines of the anal are weak and slender, and that fin is short; the operculum terminates in one or more spines, and the pre-operculum is serrated; but the notches are apt to be effaced by age. There is a single row of strong teeth in each jaw, and a narrow line of small ones in the upper; but none on the vomer or palate: there are seven gill-rays. The whole head is clothed with scales; the two strong bones of the ears are larger than in most other fishes; the chin is not furnished with cirri or beards; the air-bladder is often curiously fringed. The species inhabit the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Indian seas.

The waters that lave our own coasts occasionally produce specimens of a noble Sciæna which attains a length of six feet, and a bulk proportionate. It is the Maigre of the French (Sciæna