28 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



2. Forms of the declivity and shalloivs in depths of 15 to 20 fathoms. 



(a.) Hovers. — The ragged steps and prongs of the rocky declivity, over- 

 grown with tangles, also the rocky shallows, which here and there crown 

 the deeper loam-beds, swarm with Sea-perches, several species of Scorpions, 

 Gurnards, Wrasses, and Sea-breams, which form a characteristic fades of this 

 locality, vulgarly termed Pesci di Grotta. 



The most common are Box salpa, Box boops (the Bogue of British waters), 

 Sargus annularis and Oblata melanura, which rove in large shoals. In 

 smaller shoals are Sargus Rondeletii, Pagellus mormyrus, P. crythrinus (the 

 red, or Spanish Sea-bream of British waters), Cantharus orbicularis, and 

 Charax puntazso. 



Solitary mature specimens of Dentcx vulgaris (the British Dentex, or 

 Toothed Gilt-head, the much-valued Dentale of these climes), and Chrysophris 

 anrata (the Gilt-head, or Dorada of these shores) roam about amongst the 

 rest. 



The Sea-breams are often joined by the Umbrina of British waters 

 (Umbrina cirrliosd), less frequently by Corviua nigra, also by Bloch's 

 Gurnard (Trigla cuculus Bl.), the Piper, or Lyra (Tr. lyra). The streaked 

 Gurnard {Trigla lineata) only frequents the deep loam-bed. In their 

 company also appear Serranus scriba, S. cabrilla, also the smooth Serranus 

 (never 5\ hepatus), Scorpcena porcus, S. scrofa, Labrus festivus, L. trimaculatus 

 (the Three-spotted Wrasse) ; a British species. 



On the lower declivity and over deep crags range the Stone-basse 

 (Polyprion ccruiuiu), the John Dory (Zeus Fader), sometimes also the Boar- 

 fish (Capros apcr), all belonging to the British fauna. 



Several varieties of Sea-horses (Hippocampus) are found over the whole 

 declivity down to 30 fathoms : these belong, however, rather to the pelagic 

 class. 



Most Cephalopods frequent the overgrown rocky ground in average 

 depths : the Squid (Loligo vulg.), the Cuttle-fish (Sepia officinalis), which 

 often rise to the littoral zones. Sepiola Rondeletii, Octopus vulgaris (the 

 Poulp, or common Octopus), and Eledone moscliata prefer the open sea, on 

 loam-beds. 



