CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 751 



Family TRIGLIDJE. 



Gurnards. 



Differs from preceding family in having ventrals far apart and more 

 rayed (I, 4 or 5) ; plates on head armed with spines ; a large slit 

 behind fourth gill ; spinous dorsal present ; caudal narrow ; pectorals 

 large. 



PRIONOTUS, Lac. 



(Trigla, L.) 



P. palmipes, Mitch. (Ornichthys, pilatus, carolinus.) Spiny Gurnard. 

 Sea Robin. 



Snout broad, flat ; eyes close together, high up ; head bony, 

 rough ; body scaly ; opercles with spines, teeth on jaws, vomer 

 and palatines ; pectoral with three lower rays detached and 

 thickened at tips ; body robust, brownish above, clouded ; throat 

 dark ; a distinct black blotch on spiny dorsal and with light 

 streaks; pectorals short; mouth small. Dorsal rays, X 13; 

 anal rays, 12; lateral-line scales, 58. 



" This is an abundant species, found generally along the coast." 



P. tribulus, Cuv. & Val. 



Mouth large ; sides with spots ; belly pale ; blotch on spiny 

 dorsal not ocellated ; pectorals with bars, detached rays tapering ; 

 head shorter and broader than in next. Dorsal rays, X, 12; 

 anal rays, 11 ; lateral-line scales, 50. South Atlantic of United 

 States. Rarer in our latitude. 



P. sarritor, L. (evolans.} 



Similar to P. strigatus (lineatus), but spotted also with white ; 

 pectorals black, with pale edgings longer ; body and head stouter, 

 plates rougher and scales larger, in about fifty-five series. 

 Atlantic coast. Common southward. 



P. strigatus, Cuv. & Val. (lineatus.) Flying-fish. 



Olive brown above, mottled and spotted with blackish ; 

 whitish below ; a narrow black streak on lateral line and a broader 

 one below it, ending behind in dots ; lower jaw sometimes 

 orange ; pectorals black and orange and dark lines ; black 



