THE SHORT-SPINED COTTUS. 183 



pend on the age of the fish, as shewn when treating of the 

 last species, Trivia gurnardus. Mr Yarrell, in speaking of 

 this fish, says, " The spot on the first dorsal fin, however, 

 must not be considered as sufficient alone to identify this 

 species ; the two specimens under comparison, both having 

 this black spot, are in reality only varieties of the grey 

 gurnard." Certainly if we examine a specimen of T. Blo- 

 chii and a full grown one of T. gurnardus^ we shall find 

 them to differ widely from one another ; but if a specimen 

 of either, nine inches in length, be examined, it will be 

 found to possess the characters of both, namely, the first 

 dorsal fin will have the rudiments of a dark spot ; the dorsal 

 ridge partly crenated and partly serrated, the lateral line 

 rough and serrated, and the body of a reddish-grey appear- 

 ance. Mr Jenyns states that it never attains the size of 

 the grey gurnard. In no instance have I ever found the 

 young of the grey gurnard possessing the characters of an 

 adult, but bearing always those which are assigned to 

 T. Blochii* 



Gen'us COTTUS. — Dorsal fins two ; body without 

 scales ; teeth in front of the vomer, but none on the pala- 

 tines. 



CoTTUs scoEPius.t — -Thk Short-spined Cottus. 



Specific Characters. — Preoperculum with three spines, the longest 

 not extending beyond the operculum. 



Description. — From a specimen a foot in length. Body rounded, 

 without scales, tapering gradually to the base of the tail ; head large, 



• Plate 24. is here added to make the number of the British gurnards 

 complete, and to serve as a comparison should the fish be found to occur on 

 the Scottish coast. It has recently been added to the British Fauna. — See 

 Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. i. 



-f- Cottzis scorpius, Cuv., Yar., Jen., Bloch. S/iort-spined Coitus, Sea 

 Scorpion, Sea Bullhead, Scotland. 



"^ 



