COTTID^E. 65 



in a short spine. Preorbital elongated anteriorly and ending in a broad 

 triangular plate, armed in front with several denticulations. Opercle with a 

 strong spine. A serrated ridge passes from the eye to the supra-scapular, wliich 

 ends in a large and sharp spine. The coracoid also terminates in a very long 

 spine equal to almost half the length of the head. The posterior extremity of the 

 maxilla does not reach to beneath the front edge of the eye. Teetli fine ones in 

 the jaws and vomer, none on the palatines or tongue. Fins dorsal spines strong, 

 the third the longest and equalling half the length of the head : the first spine 

 roughened anteriorly. Pectoral reaching to above the seventh or eighth anal 

 ray. Caudal emarginate. Scales much more distinct in large examples than 

 in some other species of the genus. Lateral-line unarmed. 25 to 27 strong, 

 spinate elevations along the base of the dorsal fin. Ccecal appendages six. 

 Air-bladder oval, smallest and pointed anteriorly, enlarged posteriorly but 

 without any divisions. Colour of a bright red, becoming lighter on the sides 

 and white beneath. Fins red. 



Names. The piper : in Scotland according to Sibbald, crowner and sea-hen. 

 Pibydd, Welsh. La Lyre, French. 



Habits. A wandering fish which Couch observed is sometimes common and at 

 others somewhat rare. When captured it emits a hissing sound by expelling air 

 through its gills. The stomach of one opened was full of Ophiuroidea. 



Means of capture. Usually taken with the trawl. 



As food. Is considered in some places as excellent for the table, even the 

 epicure Quin bearing testimony to its merits. 



Habitat. From the British Isles and west coast of Europe through the Medi- 

 terranean. 



Common on the south-west and western coasts of Great Britain, unless during 

 the winter months, but being a great wanderer it is often rare at one season, 

 numerous in another. It is little known to the north of England and not recorded 

 from the north of Scotland, although Scouler observes that it is not rare in 

 Glasgow, where examples sometimes weigh 7 lb. 



In Ireland it is found on the south and south-west coasts according to Thomp- 

 son who considered Templeton's fish from the north of Ireland to be T. cuculus. 

 Moore has reported it from Kerry. The Earl of Ducie in Ballinskellig Bay, 

 obtained in 1876 four, in 1877 one, and in 1879 nine. 



Pennant observes that it grows to 2 feet in length, and Jenyns that it attains 

 a weight of nearly 7 lb. 



6. Trigla obscura, Plate XXVII . 



Cuculus, Rondel. Pise. Mar. lib. x, c. 2, p. 287, c. fig. ; Gesner, Aquat. iv, 

 p. 305 and 1598, f. 17, c. fig. ; Aldrov. ii, c. 4, p. 138. 



Trigla obscura, Linn. Mus. Ad. Frid. ii, p. 94 ; Bl. Schn. p. 16 ; Bonap. Faun. 

 Ital. Pesci, iii, p. 102, c. fig. ; Steind. Ich. Span. u. Port. 1867, p. 87 ; Gunther, 

 Catal. ii, p. 210. 



Trigla lucerna, Briinn. Pise. Mass. p. 76 ; Risso, Ich. Nice, p. 209 ; Cuv. and 

 Val. iv, p. 72, pi. lxxii ; Tarrell, Brit. Fish. (Ed. 2) i, p. 63, c. fig. (Ed. 3) ii, p. 

 39 ; Parnell, Mag. Zool. and Bot. i, p. 526 and Fishes Firth of Forth, p. 23, pi. 

 xxiv ; Guichen. Exp. Alger. Poiss. p. 40 ; White, Catal. Brit. Fish. p. 5 (not 

 Trigla lucerna Linn.). 



Trigla cuculus, Risso, Eur. Merid. iii, p. 394. 



Trigla filaris, Otto, Conspect. pp. 7 and 8. 



Lanthorn gurnard, Couch, Fish. British Isles, ii, p. 33, pi. lxx. 



B. vii, D. 10 | 1718, P. 10 + iii, V. 1/5, A. 17, C. 12, L. 1. 70, Ccec. pyl. 8, 

 Vert. 12/23. 



Length of head 4^, of caudal fin 5f, height of body 7 in the total length. 

 y e diameter 1^ in the postorbital portion of the head, 2/3 of a diameter apart. 

 Interorbital space slightly concave. Upper profile, from _ eye to snout, descends 

 abruptly, and is slightly convex. Bones of the head with roughened stellated 

 ridges. Several small spines at the anterior- superior angle of the orbit. Preor- 



5 



