GURNARDS. 85 



rays, and with the membrane often coloured ; 

 there are three free rays before the base of each, 

 covered with a fleshy skin, well supplied with 

 nerves. The ventrals are also large, and situated 

 immediately beneath the pectorals. The anal 

 corresponds with the second dorsal. The caudal 

 is slightly lunate, or hollowed at the extremity. 

 Both of the jaws, and the front of the vomer, are 

 furnished with minute, close-set teeth. The gill- 

 opening is large, and the branchiostegous rays 

 are seven. 



The swimming-bladder in this genus is rather 

 large, and presents considerable diversity of form. 

 In general it is somewhat heart-shaped, more or 

 less cleft in front, but in the Sapphirine Gurnard, 

 presently to be described, it is triple, the principal 

 sac giving off, on each side, an accessory sac, 

 tapering off to a point behind, but united to, and 

 opening into, the main chamber at the front part. 

 The membranes of which this organ are composed 

 are thick, dense, and leathery. 



Notwithstanding this development of the air- 

 vesicle, the Gurnards are ground-fishes. They 

 chiefly haunt the vicinity of the bottom, where 

 they feed on crabs, lobsters, and other Crustacea ; 

 not, however, confining themselves to these, for 

 they are very voracious. 



The Grey Gurnard {Trigla gurnardus, Linn.) 

 seems to affect the surface more than the other 

 species of the genus. On the Atlantic shores of 

 Scotland and Ireland it is not uncommon to see 

 immense shoals of this Crooner , (as it is called on 

 the former coast,) rippling the smooth water as 

 they cut the surface, so as to be readily shot wdth 

 a fowling piece. 



