SURMULLET, Mullus, a genus of acanthopterous fishes of the family mullidce, a small family formerly included in percidce, but distinguished by having two dorsal fins widely separated from one another, the first spinous; and large, easily detached, strongly ciliated scales on the head and body. The genus nndlus has no teeth on the upper jaw, but a disk of pavement-like teeth on the front of the vomer. Two long barbels hang from the under jaw, or, when not in use, are folded up against it. Only two species are known, both abundant in the Mediterranean, and both found on the British coasts. They very gen erally receive the name MULLET, by which are confounded with a very different genus. The STRIPED SURMTJLLET, or STRIPED RED MULLET (M. surmuletus), is sometimes very plentiful on the southern coast of England, but is rarer toward the north. It approaches the shores in summer, and many surmullets are then taken in mackerel nets; but at other seasons it is only obtained from comparatively deep water by trawl-nets. It sometimes attains, in the Mediterranean, a weight of 6 or 7 pounds, but has never been known much to exceed 3 pounds in the British seas, and is seldom more than 2 pounds in weight. The ancient Romans, who held it in the highest esteem, gave prodigious prices
for fish of unusually large size. They kept surmullets in their vivaria; but there the fish did not increase in size. The color is pale pink, with three or four yellow longitudinal stripes; but where any of the scales have been rubbed off, beautiful tints of purple and bright red appear, which takes place also during the struggles of the fish when dying, and the Romans were therefore accustomed to bring surmullets alive into their banquet ing-rooms, that the guests might see them die, and enjoy the brilliant display of color, before eating the fish. The liver was regarded as peculiarly delicious, and was bruised in wine to make a garum for the flesh. The surmullet is still regarded as one of the best' of fishes.—The RED SuRmuLLET, or PLAIN RED MULLET (AL barbatus), is very rare on the coasts of Britain. It is a much smaller fish than that already described. Other species of mullidce are found in tropical Seas.