in ichthyology, a genus of fishes belonging to the order of thoracici. The barbatus, or red surmullet, was highly esteemed by the Romans, and bore an exceeding high price. The capricious epicures of Horace's days valued it in proportion to its size; not that the larger were more delicious, but that they were more difficult to be got. The price that was given for one in the time of Juvenal and Pliny, is a striking evidence of the luxury and extravagance of the age:

\[ \text{Mullum sex millibus emit} \]

\[ \text{Æquamem sane paribus seferita librit}. \quad \text{Ju v. Sat. IV.} \]

The lavish slave

Six thousand pieces for a mullet gave,

A sesterc for each pound. DRYDEN.

But Asinius Celer, a man of consular dignity, gave a still more unconscionable sum; for he did not scruple bestowing 8000 nummi, or 64l. 11s. 8d. for a fish of so small a size as the mullet: for, according to Horace, a mullet triflbris, or one of 3 lb., was a great rarity; so that Juvenal's spark must have had a great bargain in comparison of what Celer had.

But Seneca says, that it was not worth a farthing except it died in the very hand of your guest: that such was the luxury of the times, that there were stews even in the eating-rooms, so that the fish could at once be brought from under the table, and placed on it: that they put the mullets in transparent vases, that they might be entertained with the various changes of its rich colour while it lay expiring. Apicius, a wonderful genius for luxurious inventions, first hit upon the method of suffocating them in the exquisite Carthaginian pickle, and afterwards procured a rich sauce from their livers. This is the same gentleman whom Pliny, in another place, honours with the title of Nuptiæ potum omnium altissimus gurges; an expression too forcible to be rendered in our language.

Mr Pennant has heard of this species being taken on the coast of Scotland, but had no opportunity of examining it; and whether it is found in the west of England with the other species or variety, we are not at this time informed. Salvianus makes it a distinct species, and says that it is of a purple colour, striped with golden lines, and that it did not commonly exceed a palm in length; no wonder then that such a prodigy as one of 6 lb. should so captivate the fancy of the Roman epicure.

Mr Ray establishes some other distinctions, such as the first dorsal fin having nine rays, and the colour of that fin, the tail, and the pectoral fins, being of a very pale purple.

MULTIPLE, in arithmetic, a number which comprehends some other several times; thus 6 is a multiple of 2, and 12 is a multiple of 6, 4, and 3; comprehending the first twice, the second thrice, &c.

Action of MULTIPLEPOINDING, in Scots law. See Law, n° cxxxiii. 24.