hitherto confounded with Trigla Blochu. 465 



either of the two other named fishes ; the second, or middle, 

 gill-plate has, also, two well-developed bifid spines on its 

 lower part, the uppermost longest. The markings of the gill- 

 plates will farther distinguish this fish from our other Triglae ; 

 the two first being striated, the hindmost punctulated, the 

 roughness being as if dotted in with a pin. From the snout 

 to the margin of the gill opening, the distance is 7 in. The 

 pectoral fin is 5 in. long, not reaching to the vent, and not so 

 wide as in the tub-fish. The longest digit is rather less than 

 4 in. long : the shortest 2\ in. The lateral line is rough, most 

 so posteriorly : the roughness is formed of small obtuse 

 points. The ridge on each side of the dorsal fins is formed 

 of broad firm plates, which, when dried, are marked with fine 

 teeth (b). Behind the fins, the body is round, with a depres- 

 sion in a line with the margin of the tail. The edge of the 

 rays of the first dorsal is smooth ; the second ray is much the 

 longest, and the first is shorter than the second and third. 

 The scales are thin, are ciliated on their posterior edge, and 

 are not arranged in regularly circular lines. 1st d., 9; 2d d., 

 19; p., 11 ; v., 15; a., 18 ; c, 18. The colour of the cheeks 

 is silvery, yellow, and light green, intermixed. The iris is 

 white. The back is reddish, of the tint usually found in the 

 tub-fish ; but this red is mixed chiefly near the head, with de- 

 finite curved lines of pea-green ; the sides are yellow, the 

 belly is silvery. The pectorals are pale on the outer surface, 

 dusky within, with tints of blue on the edge. The dorsal and 

 caudal fins are of a pale red ; the ventral and anal white ; 

 the caudal reddish, with tints of blue. The specimen weighed 

 five pounds. 



The fish here described agrees in all its essential characters 

 with the Trigla noticed by Cuvier (Poissons, vol. iv. p. 67.) 

 under the name of T, Cuculus Bl. ; from whose description it 

 differs only in the absence of a dark spot on the first dorsal ; 

 a circumstance which, it is remarked by that author, is liable 

 to variation. But it is distinguished from Bloch's gur- 

 nard of Mr. Yarrell (Br. F., p. 50.) in a variety of par- 

 ticulars, of which the chief are, the very great difference of 

 size, the latter " rarely exceeding 1 ft. in length, and seldom 

 above 9 in. or 10 in. ;" "the whole body rough," whereas 

 this fish is not rougher over the body than the tub-fish is ; " the 

 lateral line more strongly serrated than in the grey gurnard," 

 whilst in the fish now under consideration this part is but 

 faintly, though distinctly, roughened : " Bloch's gurnard" is 

 also distinguished, not only from this, but every other British 

 species, by having the first dorsal ray the longest; a circum- 

 stance not noticed by Cuvier in his description, which is very 



Vol. IX. — No. 65. mm 



