Date: Sunday f 20, 2012
Lesser Grey Mullet Sea Fish
This species is less frequently seen than the last named, hut when it appears, it is in far larger numbers and more huddled to'gether. I have been informed of five thousand, and in another instance almost eight thousand that were taken at one haul of a scan. The usual season of success is in the winter or spring, when they enter harbours and appear busily engaged in searching the crevices of rocks and clumps of sea weeds for their appropriate food.
Their habits in other respects are but little known, except that they are disposed to seek their escape from confinement by leaping over an obstacle in the same manner as the Greater Grey Mullet. Although this species has only been distinguished from the other of late years, it is known, and even in considerable numbers, as far as to the extreme north of the United Kingdom.
I have not seen it larger than from ten inches to a foot in length, and when many hundreds are taken together they usually appear to be of one size. Compared with the larger Mullet the body is less deep, the head of more uniform pro portions, and the eye slightly higher on the cheek.
First dorsal having four spinous rays, nearer to the second than its own breadth, second dorsal with nine rays, pectoral placed high on the side, with fifteen raystr anal ten, the last two from one root, ventral six, the first simple, caudal fin fifteen rays. The colour is much as in the larger Mullet.
Besides the species of Grey Mullets of which we have given figures and descriptions, there remain two or three others which are supposed to be natives of our coasts, and which therefore require attention, but I am compelled to acknowledge that I know nothing of them beyond what is related by Mr. Yarrell, and especially by Dr. Gunther, the notes of whom I shall content myself with transcribing for the use of such observers as may have the fortune to meet with specimens.
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