58 Supplements to the History

THE SARGUS

The fish *Sargos* should perhaps more rightly be named *Sarkos*, a name derived from the word for flesh (*carne*). According to Guillaume Rondelet, it is quite a thick fish for its size and possesses a greater abundance of meat than the *Sparus* or other fish of this genus. We have already presented several varieties and illustrations of this fish in our *History of Fishes*. The first of these depicts the *Sargus orthopygosictos*, so named because it is spotted near the base of the tail. It features golden fins, with the exception of the blackish fin near the anus. Along with its black stripes, it displays many golden lines and a violet spot near the tail; in fact, the entire head leans toward a violet hue.

Secondly, we have the *Sargus polygrammos*, beautifully adorned with golden lines and silver markings that resemble the teeth of a saw. Finally, there is an illustration of the Sargus following the description by Conrad Gessner. In his *History of Aquatic Animals*, Gessner included another figure of the Sargus based on the accounts of others, attributing this particular drawing to Cornelius Sittard. We display this figure here to provide our readers with a broader perspective, as it is said to clearly depict the mouth, head, and teeth of the Sargus.

Gessner's final illustration of the Sargus.