144 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MAILED CHEEKS. 



been ascertained to be British, and some having a 

 strong resemblance have been long confounded. 

 Their specific characters, besides being casually 

 mentioned here, will be stated more prominently 

 in the Appendix. They are all marine fish, and 

 usually frequent deep waters, where they are cap- 

 tured with the trawl line and deep-sea lines. They 

 form good nourishing food, and some of them are 

 highly esteemed. 



(Sp. 11.) T. cuculus. The Red Gurnard, it 

 should be noted, is the Cuculus of Linnaeus, and not 

 of Bloch. It is the Bed Gurnard, Red Crooner, 

 and Cuckoo Gurnard of our fishermen. Some cau- 

 tion is necessary in its identification, Colonel Mon- 

 tague remarking that the name Red Gurnard is 

 misapplied, as it partakes less of that colour than 

 many of its congeners, and consequently these others 

 are apt to be mistaken for it. Dr Parnell states 

 the principal distinguishing characters to be, that 

 the lateral line is crossed throughout its length by 

 lines not reaching below the middle of the sides, 

 and that the gill-cover and shoulder-plate terminate 

 with a spine directed backwards. The appellation 

 Cuckoo, applied to this fish, is bestowed from the 

 supposed resemblance of its note, when taken from 

 the water, to that of its sylvan prototype. The 

 average size of this fish is from nine to twelve inches* 

 sometimes reaching sixteen. Its colouring is rich 

 and beautiful. When first taken from the water, it 

 is rose-red above, its sides and abdomen are dull 

 white tinged with red, with the fins reddish white ; 



