Præsignis maculis capitis: cui prodiga nutat
Alvus, opimatoque fluens abdomine venter.”
The sea-trout is well described in the following line:
“Purpureisque Salar stellatus tergora guttis.”
Nonnius considers the salmon to be the anchorago of Cassiodorus. (De Esu Piscium, 31.) Gesner holds the same opinion. (De Aquat.)
Ludovicus Nonnius confesses his inability to determine what the scarus was. It would seem to have been the fish now called labrus scarus L., a small fish, according to Bellonius, being seldom more than a fathom long. Xenocrates praises it as being very savoury and of easy digestion, but of difficult distribution and evacuation. For a curious account of it, see Macrobius (Sat. iii, 16.) The sargus nearly resembles the scarus, but is more astringent and nutritious. It is the sparus sargus L., and, according to Rondelet, is called sargo by the Italians. The melanurus (sparus m.) is very like to it in shape and qualities.
The aurata, called by Bruyer and Nonnius in French brame de mer; and by Ainsworth and Artedi, gilt-head in English, (namely, the sparus aurata L.) is said by Celsus and Mnesitheus as quoted by Athenæus, to be a fish of difficult digestion but very nutritious. Xenocrates says that its flesh is firm, white, of easy distribution, and nutritious.
The passer, called platessa by Ausonius, is supposed by Artedi and Nonnius to have been the plaice (pleuronectes platessa.) It is mentioned by Horace among the delicacies at the supper of Nasidienus. The solea or sole, called lingualaca by Festus and Varro, was nearly allied to it. It is the P. solea. Diphilus says that both are very savoury and nutritious.
The lamprey (petromyzon lampetra L.) is the mustella of Ausonius, the exormiston of Cassiodorus, the γαλάξιας of Galen, the ἐχένηις of Oppian, and the βδέλλα of Strabo. See Bruyer, Nonnius, and Rondelet. It was reckoned unwholesome.