the mullet; in ichthyology, a genus of fishes belonging to the order of abdominates. The lips are membranaceous, the inferior one being carinated inwards; they have no teeth; the branchiofuge membrane has seven crooked rays; the opercula are smooth and round; and the body is of a whitish colour. There are two species, distinguished by the number of rays in the back-fin.

The mullet is justly ranked by Aristotle among the piscis littorales, or those that prefer the shores to the full sea; they are found in great plenty on several of the sandy coasts of our island, and haunt in particular those small bays that have influxes of fresh water. They come in great shoals, and keep rooting like hogs in the sand or mud, leaving their traces in form of large round holes. They are very cunning: and when surrounded with a net, the whole shoal frequently escapes by leaping over it; for when one takes the lead, the others are sure to follow. This circumstance is observed by Oppian; who also informs us, that if these fishes fail to get over at the first leap, they never attempt a second, but lie without motion as if they resigned themselves to their fate. Mr Pennant says he is uncertain whether this last observation holds good or not; however, Oppian had good opportunity of examining those fish, as they sometimes swarm on the coasts of the Mediterranean. Near Martegues, in the south of France, abundance of mullets are taken in weirs made of reeds placed in the shallows. Of the milks of the males, which are there called alleants, and of the roes of females, which are called botar, is made botargo. The materials are taken out entire, covered with salt for four or five hours, then pressed a little between two boards or stones, washed, and at last dried in the sun for 13 or 14 days.

This fish was sometimes made the instrument of a horrible punishment for unfortunate gallants. It was used both at Athens and Rome; but it is very doubtful whether it was a legal punishment or not. By Horace it is mentioned in the following lines:

Difceleta tunica fugendum est, et pede nudo; Nec nummi percant, aut Pyga, aut demique fama.

Satyr. II. lib. i. 132.

The mullet is an excellent fish for the table, but at present not a fashionable one.