148 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MAILED CHEEKS. 



been observed on the Irish : it has also a wide dis- 

 tribution along the European shores, and in the 

 ocean. It takes the hook in deep water greedily, 

 will bite at a red rag, and, as noted by Pen- 

 nant, is also fond of sporting on the surface. As 

 exhibiting this peculiarity, we quote the words of 

 an intelligent reviewer in the Magazine of Zoology 

 and Botany, (i. 389). " We recollect observing the 

 sports of shoals of this species when on an excur- 

 sion to the Western Isles, during a week of beauti- 

 ful and too calm weather ; for it was before steam- 

 boats plied. They were often discovered by their 

 noise, a dull croak or croon, or by the ripple or 

 plough of their nose on the surface of the calm sea ; 

 thus they would swim for a few yards, and then 

 languidly sink for a foot or eighteen inches, display 

 or stretch their lovely fins, and again rise to the top. 

 Boats were out with hand-lines; almost all were 

 half -full, the men having little to do but bait the 

 hooks and pull up. We resorted to our guns, and 

 killed sufficient for dinner from the deck of the ves- 

 sel." The flesh is considered as not equal to that of 

 some of the other species. 



(Sp. 17). T. Blochii. Bloch's Gurnard. This 

 name has been very judiciously applied to the pre- 

 sent species by Mr. Yarrell, to distinguish it from 

 the first species — the Cuculus of Linnasus, from 

 which it manifestly differs. Ichthyologists, how- 

 ever, are not quite agreed as to its title to inde- 

 pendency. Its specific characters are said to be 

 the first dorsal fins having a black spot, and the 



