176 ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



or less distinct, across the back. First dorsal bluish-black, in its posterior two- 

 thirds ; second dorsal bluish with a central yellowish band. Upper pectoral rays 

 with some yellowish bands ; ventral dusky ; caudal with three vertical bands. 

 The colours of these fish are so beautiful and fade so rapidly after death that they 

 require being seen when alive to be appreciated. The immature males have the 

 spots along the upper surface of the body blue. 



Varieties. Immature males coloured like females, but possessing milt or 

 soft roe, having been captured, it was surmised that the two were sexes of one 

 species and not identical with the gemmous dragonet : an error perpetuated by 

 several authors. Pennant in his edition of 1812 asserted the differences were 

 merely sexual. Neill, p. 529 (Mem. Wern. Soc), likewise pointed out the sexes, 

 and observed they were often taken in the Firth of Forth in from 12 to 20 

 fathoms water on haddock lines baited with mussels. 



Names. Gemmous dragonet, or the male seems to have been so termed from 

 the brilliancy of its gem-like colours. The appellation "dragonet" was 

 substituted by Pennant for " yellow gurnard," a name it was previously known 

 by. It is likewise locally known as the bridegroom (Banffshire). Balle-eries, 

 " Leries " is a "messenger" (Aberdeen). The female and young males are 

 termed fox (mouth of Thames) ; skulpin or yellow skulpin (male). Chanticleer, 

 gowdie, Scot, (male) gowd or gold denoting its yellow colour. Sordid dragonet, 

 dusky skulpin (female). Chiquer (male) and Doucet (female) at Dieppe; Savamj, 

 at Caen; Lavandiere, at Fecamp ; Comard, at Brest (male). Fcesing, Norway. 

 Pitvisch, Holland. 



Lacepede, enraptured at its scientific and beautiful name, wrote : " What 

 pleasing images, what touching recollections does its not recall ? Celestial beauty 

 charming our eyes enchanting music touching our hearts : these two names 

 happily associated restore through memory your sweet but irresistible power." 

 Pontoppidan called it a " flying fish," as it was supposed to use its pectoral fins in 

 order to raise itself out of the water. 



Habits. Does not appear to congregate in shoals, while the adult male is 

 believed to prefer deeper water, as from 20 to 60 fathoms, than does the 

 female or the young these latter being more frequently observed closer inshore 

 near to the edge of the tide, especially in sandy bays or at the mouths of large 

 rivers. This fish generally remains near the bottom among stones or sand, and 

 possesses very acute vision ; it darts away immediately on being alarmed, while, 

 according to Dr. Ball, it is able to bury itself. In an aquarium it remains quite 

 still at the bottom of the tank, and even covers itself with sand except merely the 

 top of the head as far as the gill-openings. Now and then it will dart along for a 

 short distance, and then settle down again often at the very spot from where it 

 set out. It feeds on testaceous animals which it swallows entire, also on worms 

 and molluscs. It lives some time after removal from the water. Mr. Dunn on 

 May 24th, 1881, obtained at Mevagissey a yellow sculpin caught in a mackerel net 

 at the surface of the sea 14 miles from land and in 40 fathoms water. 



Means of capture. Usually by trawls and nets ; while small ones are taken in 

 sandy bays by shrimpers. Pennant observes that in his time it was often secured 

 by the hook in 30 or 40 fathoms water off Scarborough. It is frequently found 

 in the stomach of the cod. A fisherman informed Thompson that he occasionally 

 took this fish on long lines set on muddy but never on sandy bottoms. Off some 

 localities on the south-west coast its preopercular spine is believed to occasion a 

 poisonous wound. 



Baits. Although it occasionally takes a bait, the size of its mouth precludes 

 large hooks being employed for this purpose. 



Breeding. Dr. G. Johnston (Zool. Journal, iii, p. 336) recorded having found 

 a sordid dragonet containing milt or soft roe, it being a young male. The Rev. 

 G. Harris (Zool. p. 2999 and 3118) mentions having discovered hard roe in 

 a gemmous dragonet, which, provided the observation were correct, is interesting 

 as seeming to show that the female might assume the colours of the male and 

 still not be sterile. The obsei'vation does not seem to have been confirmed by any 

 other naturalist. 



