146 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MAILED CHEEKS. 



(Sp. 13). T. hirundo. Sapphirine Gurnard, or 

 Smoothsides. The most marked specific character 

 of this Gurnard is the lateral line being smooth and 

 simple ; the scales also are entire at their free mar- 

 gin ; the pectorals are about the same size as in the 

 preceding species. Its trivial English name is de- 

 rived from the colour of its pectoral fins, which are 

 bluish green upon the inner surface, spotted with 

 bright blue*; the general colour of the body is 

 browTiiish red, tinged with yellow-green. It spawns 

 in the winter months, and is one of the largest and 

 most valuable fishes which inhabits our seas, vary- 

 ing from a foot and a half to two feet in length, 

 and more ; and is also one of the commonest : it 

 abounds on the southern and eastern coasts, where 

 it is taken on Whiting lines, as well as by the net. 

 It is also common on the west of Scotland, but rare 

 on the east, appearing but seldom in the Edinburgh 

 markets. It is not inferior, as food, to any of its 

 congeners ; though, like them, it is somewhat dry, 

 and requires help from the culinary art : in the 

 north of Europe it is salted for preservation. 



(Sp. 14.) T. poeciloptera. The Little Gurnard. 

 Tliis small species was discovered by M. Valenciennes 

 at Dieppe, and afterwards found by Mr. Ball, in 

 1815, at Youghal, in Ireland. Its pectoral fin is 

 distinguished, on its inner aspect, by a deep black 

 marking, streaked wdth milk white ; its head and 

 back are abundantly furnished with spines. Tlie 

 back is brov^-nish red, the abdomen silvery white, 

 and red at the ventrals ; the flanks are golden and 



