Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/112

98 appearance, their sides presenting the likeness of silver and burnished steel, in which are imbedded longitudinal parallel bands of gold.

The present Genus belongs to the first of the sub-families, mentioned above. It is characterized by the teeth in the front half of the jaws being numerous, close-set, slender, and pointed; those in the rear being rounded molars, disposed in two or three rows, those of the outer row the most powerful. There is but a single dorsal fin, which is lengthened, and composed of both spinous and flexible rays; the pectorals are pointed; the cheeks and gill-covers are covered with scales; the form is deeper than thick; the outline of both the belly and the back is rounded.

The species of the genus Pagellus are common in the Mediterranean, and on the shores of the Atlantic, as far north as Denmark, beyond which they appear to be unknown. Three are found on our own coasts, two of which are rare and accidental visitants, and one is a common fish.

The Common Sea-Bream (Pagellus centrodontus, .) is about a foot and a half long, six inches deep, and two and a half inches thick; its form is much compressed, its outline both above and below gracefully swelling. The eye is enormous, and this gives it a peculiar appearance; the wide iris is golden or silvery. The hue of the upper parts is reddish-grey, the sides and belly pearly, with faint blue stripes running longitudinally. The dorsal and anal fins are strong and spinous, and are lodged in a singular groove; they