173 



CALITONYMUS- 



Thk head obloug, depressed; eyes on the top of the head, and near 

 each other; the intermaxillary portion of the jaw capable of protrusion. 

 Gill openings very small, high on the body; hinder gill-covers armed 

 with a spine. Ventral fins larger than the pectorals, and placed under 

 the throat, which places them in the order of jugular fishes as 

 arranged by Linnaeus. Dorsal tins two. 



It has long been believed that there were two fishes of this genus 

 which were natives of the coasts of the British Islands; and the 

 general proportions of their shape, the very difi'erent dimensions and 

 form of their organs of swimming, with great diversity of colour, 

 appear sufficient grounds for this supposition; but it is an extraordinary 

 circumstance in connection with the history of these fishes, that in 

 recent times a doubt has been thrown on the fact of their being of 

 distinct species; and it has become the belief of some naturalists that 

 the two supposed British kinds of Callionymus are, in reality, only 

 separate sexes of the same fish. In proof of this opinion it is argued 

 that no decided instance has been met with in which roe has been 

 detected in the species known as the Yellow or Golden Skulpin, 

 {Calliom/mus h/ra;) whereas in all cases the less developed, and more 

 soberly-ornamented Plain Skulpin, or, as it has been called, the Sordid 

 Dragonet, is found to be a female, or, if a male, the latter is in its 

 earliest and less-developed stage of existence. Where this diversity of 

 opinion exists, it remains for further observation to decide the question; 

 but, in. the meanwhile, as their appearance is very difi'erent, and some 

 diff'erence also is believed to exist in their habits, we deem it proper 

 to proceed on the old opinion, and describe them as if they were truly 

 sepnrate species. 



These fishes are without an air-bladder. 



YELLOW SKULPIN. 



GOLDEN SKULPIN. YELLOW GURNARD. GEMMEOUS DRAGONET. 



GOVVDIE. 



Callionymus lyra, LtnNjEUS. Cuvier. 



Callionyme lyre, Lacepede. Risso. 



Callionymus lyra, Donovan; pi. 9. Fleming. 



Jenyns ; Manual, p. 388. 



Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 2(^7. 

 GuNTHER; Cat. Br. M., vol. iii, p. 139. 



