28 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



2. Forms of the declivity and shallows in depths of 15 to 20 fathoms. 



(a.) Rovers. — The ragged steps and prongs of the rocky declivity, over- 

 grown with tangles, also the rocky shallows, which here and there crown 

 the deeper loam-beds, swarm with Sea-perches, several species of Scorpions, 

 Gurnards, Wrasses, and Sea-breams, which form a characteristic fades of this 

 locality, vulgarly termed Pesci di Grotta. 



The most common are Box salpa, Box boops (the Bogue of British waters), 

 Sargus annularis and Oblata vielanura, which rove in large shoals. In 

 smaller shoals are Sargus Rondeletii, Pagcllus mormyrus, P. erythrinus (the 

 red, or Spanish Sea-bream of British waters), Cantharus orbicularis, and 

 Charax puntaszo. 



Solitary mature specimens of Dentex vulgaris (the British Dentex, or 

 Toothed Gilt-head, the much-valued Dentate of these climes), and Chrysophris 

 aurata (the Gilt-head, or Dorada of these shores) roam about amongst the 

 rest. 



The Sea-breams are often joined by the Umbrina of British waters 

 (Umbrina cirrhosd), less frequently by Corviua nigra, also by Bloch's 

 Gurnard (Trigla cuculus Bl.), the Piper, or Lyra (Tr. lyrd). The streaked 

 Gurnard {Trigla lineata) only frequents the deep loam-bed. In their 

 company also appear Serranus scriba, S. cabrilla, also the smooth Serranus 

 (never S. hepatus), Scorpoena porcus, S. scrofa, Labrus festivus, L. trimaculatus 

 (the Three-spotted Wrasse) ; a British species. 



On the lower declivity and over deep crags range the Stone-basse 

 (Polyp rion ceruium), the John Dory (Zeus Faber), sometimes also the Boar- 

 fish (Capros aper), all belonging to the British fauna. 



Several varieties of Sea-horses (Hippocampus) are found over the whole 

 declivity down to 30 fathoms : these belong, however, rather to the pelagic 

 class. 



Most Cephalopods frequent the overgrown rocky ground in average 

 depths : the Squid (Loligo vulg.), the Cuttle-fish (Sepia officinalis), which 

 often rise to the littoral zones. Sepiola Rondclctii, Octopus vulgaris (the 

 Poulp, or common Octopus), and Eledonc moschata prefer the open sea, on 

 loam-beds. 





