GREY GURNARD. 55 



beyond the vent, as well as their shorter and thicker body. 

 However different in colour varieties of the Gurnards may 

 appear, the other specific characters remain unchanged, with 

 the exceptions, that the young Grey Gurnard till seven or 

 eight inches long has a black spot on the upper edge of the 

 membrane of the first dorsal fin, in this particular resembling 

 the species next to be described ; and further, that the sharp 

 serrated scales forming the lateral line become smoother by 

 age. 



The northern provincial name, Crooner, says Dr. George 

 Johnston of Berwick, " may have reference either to the hard 

 and somewhat peculiarly shaped head of this fish, from 

 " croon," the top of the head ; or it may be derived from the 

 verb " croon," viz. to hum an air in an unmusical tone, 

 because of the peculiar noise which the fish sometimes utters 

 on being taken from the water." 



A writer in the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, says, 

 " The Grey Gurnard is very abundant on the western coasts 

 of Scotland, and often delights to swim on the surface. We 

 recollect observing the sports of shoals of this species when 

 on an excursion to the Western Isles, during a week of beau- 

 tiful, but too calm weather, for it was before steam-boats 

 plied. They were often discovered by their noise, a dull 

 croak or croon, whence most probably their provincial name 

 of Crooner, or by the ripple or plough of their nose on the 

 surface of the calm sea ; thus they would swim for a few 

 yards, and then languidly sink for a foot or eighteen inches, 

 display and stretch their lovely fins, and again rise to the 

 top. Boats were out with hand lines, almost all were half 

 full, the men having little to do but bait the hooks and pull 

 up. We resorted to our guns, and killed sufficient for din- 

 ner from the deck of the vessel." 



