50 WITH HARD CHEEKS. 



and have accordingly given this species a place among British 

 Fishes. 



M. Valenciennes first discovered this little Gurnard on the 

 sandy shores of Dieppe : it is distinguished from others by 

 having numerous small milk-white spots on the dark-coloured 

 inner surface of the pectoral fins. It is usually found in the 

 small pools of sea-water left on the sands by the retiring 

 tide ; and it is also taken in quantity by the shrimpers 

 there when working their small nets in three or four feet 

 water. These shrimping fishermen, who are well acquainted 

 with this small Gurnard, agree in opinion that this little 

 species seldom exceeds four inches in length. 



The head is of a uniform pale red ; the back is reddish 

 brown, which becomes grey when the specimen is preserved 

 in spirit of wine ; the belly is silvery : about the origin of the 

 ventral fins the surface inclines to red ; the body and sides are 

 tinged with gold colour, giving to this little fish a very bril- 

 liant appearance ; both dorsal fins and the tail are of a red 

 colour, with darker shades of violet towards the edges of the 

 connecting membrane. The pectoral fins are dark reddish 

 brown, with, as before observed, several small milk white 

 spots on the darker part of the inner surface of the fin, next 

 to the body of the fish. 



The number of the fin-rays in this species are 



D. 9 17 -. P. 11 3 : V. 1 +5 : A. 15 : C. 12. 



The representation exhibits the peculiarity of the character 

 and arming of the head and gill-covers. It was copied from 

 the drawing sent me by M. Valenciennes, as before referred 

 to. 



