33 



LANTHORN GURNARD. 



SHINING GUKNARD. LONG-FINNED CAPTAIN. 



Trigla lucerna, Linnaeus. Pahnell; Magazine of Zoology 



and Botany, vol. i, p. 526. 

 " " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 63. 



" obscura, Cuvier. Gunther; Catalogue of British 



Museum, vol. ii, p. 210. 

 " milan, Lacepede. Eisso. 



It appears that LimiEEus at first called this fish Trigla obscura, 

 but perhaps becoming aware of the improjoriety of a name 

 which seemed to contradict one of the supposed characteristics 

 of the species, he changed it for another which esjjecially 

 refers to its supposed property of affording light, and which 

 is more particularly the parent of one at least of its English 

 denominations. 



The Lanthorn Gurnard was first made known as inhabiting 

 the British seas by Dr. Parnell, who was at that time engaged 

 in studying the fishes of our country. He obtained several 

 examples from the trawls at Brixham, where it was well known 

 to fishermen under the name of the Long-finned Captain, from 

 the great elevation of the primary rays of the first dorsal fin; 

 but it had remained generally unknown from the little value 

 set on it on account of its small size and consequent unfitness 

 for the table. I have obtained it from Plymouth, but it does 

 not appear to be caught in any abundance, and its habits 

 prevent it from being taken by other means than by the 

 dredging operation of a trawl. I know no instance of its having 

 taken the hook. 



This fish appears to be well known in the Mediterranean, 

 where, according to Lacepede and E,isso, its manners are highly 

 VOL. II. F 



