GEX, TRIGLA. THE GURNARDS. 145 



tlie body feels rough to the touch. It is very 

 common on the shores of England, particularly 

 on the southern. Thousands of them, says Dr. 

 Parnell, are seen exposed daily on the Devonshire 

 coast, especially in those smaller towns where the 

 trawl-boat fishing is carried on. On the east coast 

 of Scotland it is seldom seen in numbers, but a few 

 are taken occasionally in the Frith of Forth, during 

 the summer, by lines, or entangled in salmon-nets, 

 at the lower part of the estuary. In Ireland it is 

 taken from Waterford in the south, to Londonderry 

 in the north. It feeds principally upon crustaceous 

 animals ; spawns in May and June ; continues out 

 of season till August, and is in highest perfection 

 for the table in the winter months. Its flesh is 

 firm and well-flavoured, and held in high estima- 

 tion. 



(Sp. 12.) T. lineata. Tlie French, or Rock Gur- 

 nard. The head of this species is shorter, and the 

 pectoral fias longer, than in the last; the profile 

 also is more vertical, and the transverse lines extend 

 from the dorsal crest to the lower part of the abdo- 

 men. It rarely attains the length of a foot; its 

 whole body is of a beautiful red colour, with small 

 black spots on the head and back ; the pectorals 

 are grey spotted ^\^th black, and the other fins red- 

 dish. Its flesh is as much esteemed as that of the 

 foregoing species, and it is in season at the same 

 period. It occurs on our southern and eastern 

 coasts, but not very abundantly ; it is well known 

 in Paris and the Canaries. 



