48 WITH HARD CHEEKS. 



their fourth volume, and Mr. Walcott in his MS. (obligingly 

 lent me by his son,) describe the lateral line as smooth ; and 

 it certainly is so, whatever may be the direction in which the 

 finger is passed over it, and so decidedly different in this 

 respect from the other Gurnards as to have obtained among 

 the fishermen who constantly handle them, the distinguishing 

 name of Smoothside. 



" This species," says Lacepede, " was first described by 

 Salvianus, and is common in the Mediterranean : it is also 

 common round our coast generally, but particularly from 

 West Bay to the Land's End, where the Gurnards are called 

 Tubs, Tubfish, and, in reference to colour, Red Tubs. 

 Like the other species of Gurnards, they are taken by the 

 trawl-net chiefly, but many are also caught on the long lines 

 called bulters, with their baited hooks. The flesh is of good 

 flavour, though rather dry, and requires sauce. In the north 

 of Europe the flesh is salted for keeping. 



D. 9 16 : P. 113 : 1 + 5 : A. 15 : C. 11. 



This species bears some general resemblance to the Red 

 Gurnard in form, but the head is larger and more flattened ; 

 the eyes large, irides yellow, and pupil dark greenish blue ; 

 the prevailing colour of the head and body brownish red ; the 

 pectoral fins large and long, reaching beyond the vent, blue 

 on the inner surface, brownish red without, the fin-rays white; 

 the spines of the operculum and scapula similar to those of 

 the Red Gurnard, but the supporting rays of the first dorsal 

 fin are not so strong as in that species. The scales are small, 

 oval, and smooth ; those on the lateral line slightly elevated, 

 but perfectly smooth, and the line bifurcates at the tail. 

 The air-bladder, as shown by the outline at page 40, has 

 three lobes, with strong lateral contracting muscles. Risso 

 says this species deposits its spawn in spring, but Mr. Couch 

 considers that this takes place in winter : and the ova are 

 certainly very large towards the end of the year. 



