Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/168

154 or lunate. The stomach terminates in a fleshy gizzard, resembling that of a bird.

The Mullets, according to the Prince of Canino's recent conspectus, amount to eighty known species; but if we include the Atherines, or Sand-Smelts, which Cuvier and Yarrell unite with this group, but of which the Roman zoologist constitutes a separate Family,—we shall have fifty more species. They are widely scattered over the globe, inhabiting both fresh and salt waters. The European species are gregarious, haunting the coasts in large shoals, entering the mouths of rivers at certain seasons, and periodically returning to the sea. Experiments, however, have proved that they will not only live but thrive, when confined to fresh water. Mr. Arnold of Guernsey, having a lake of fresh-water about three acres in extent, put into it marine fishes of various species for trial, among which was the Grey Mullet. Selecting a number of the fry, of about a finger's length, he transferred them to the pond, and found, after a few years, that the Mullet were the most improved of all the sea-fishes that he had introduced. Specimens of these, weighing four pounds, were taken from the pond, and proved fatter, deeper, and heavier, than others of similar length which were taken in the sea.

The Mountain Mullet (Mugil monticola) of Jamaica, and another species that inhabits the fresh-water streams of that island, are found in situations which almost preclude the supposition of their ever visiting the sea.

It is commonly believed that the Mullet is not a carnivorous fish, but that it confines itself to