101 



THE TUB-FISH AND THE PIPER. 



TheSappliirine Gurnard, or Tab-Fish (Trigla Idrundo), 

 or Swallow Gurnard. The name " tub " is derived from 

 a word which signifies short and thick, and of which 

 the word " tubbot," frequently used in the west of 

 England, is the adjective. The fins of the fish are of a 

 most lovely blue ; it grows to a large size — as much as 

 lllbs. In June, 1869, I received from Dr. Norman, of 

 Yarmouth, a very fine specimen of this fish ; it was two 

 feet and one inch in length, said to be the largest ever 

 caught on that coast. 



The Piper {Trigla hjra). In November, 1871, Mr. 

 Frank Gosden, of Exeter, presented me with a very 

 handsome specimen of the piper, which is now in my 



RED GURNARD [Trigla cuculus). 



museum. Mr. Couch says the piper is little known in 

 the north of England, and is not numbered among the 

 fishes of Scotland. It is far from rare on the west 

 coast, except in winter, when it seeks deep water ; it 

 resembles the tub-fish, but is held in greater estimation 

 for the table. The colours are very brilliant ; the 

 head, back, and sides of a pink or scarlet, and nearly 

 white on the belly ; the fins more or less red. It is 

 said to obtain its name from being somewhat the shape 

 of an ancient musical instrument, or from the peculiar 

 noise it makes when taken out of the water. 



