a gift; the fact of payment having been made for them, would, it was pretended, deprive them of all their value. It is to be regretted that superstitions, equally groundless with this, are still common in this enlightened age, and in our own country; diseases being considered removable by the wearing of certain amulets or charms.
The Maigre, as a British fish, is a great rarity; the Mediterranean, especially its northern shore, is its chief resort. In its habits it is somewhat migratory; swimming in small shoals, which shift their quarters from one part of the coast to another, seldom remaining long in a place. The air-bladder is long, and tapers to a point behind; the free edge of the membrane, being cut into irregular fringes all along each side, gives it a singular appearance.
Family VI. Sparidæ.
(Sea-breams.)
In form these fishes somewhat resemble those of the preceding Family, presenting a high, rather oval, vertical outline, of greater depth than thickness. They have but one dorsal, which is never clothed with scales in any degree: the operculum is not spinous, nor is the pre-operculum notched: the muzzle is not thickened, nor are the bones of the skull cavernous; the mouth is not protrusile. In addition to these negative distinctions, it may be added that the jaws are furnished with round fiat grinding teeth, arranged like the stones of a pavement, and often with strong pointed canines in front; the pectoral
