254 SALMON TRIBE. 



and wide and expansile jaws, these fish are, for their size, 

 not only tremendous in appearance, but commit great de- 

 vastation among the other scaly tribes, as well as among all 

 kinds both of testaceous and crustaceous animals. They 

 continue chiefly near the bottom of the sea, and are easily 

 to be caught by means of lines, baited with a piece of a 

 fish, or a bit of red cloth ; but the most general mode in 

 which they are taken is with nets. They deposit their ova 

 in the month of May or June, in places not far distant from 

 the sea-shores. Their flesh, though somewhat insipid, is 

 white ; and they are in much request for the table. 



The Gray Gurnard usually measures from one to two 

 feet in length. The back is of a dusky green colour, 

 spotted with white, yellow, and black. The belly is sil- 

 very. At the extremity of each gill-cover there is a sharp 

 and strong spine. The lateral line is composed of large 

 and rough scales, is black in the middle, and white at the 

 edges. 



Flying Gurnard. The pectoral fins of these fish are so 

 large, that, by means of them, they are able to rise out of 

 the water, and fly, to the distance of several yards, in the 

 air. TlnYthey do for the purpose of escaping from the 

 pursuit of their enemies of the deep. They are very nu- 

 merous in the Mediterranean, and are often brought for 

 sale to the markets of Sicily and Malta. 



ORDER IV. ABDOMINAL FISH. 



15. SALMON TRIBE. 



All the species of Salmon are in great request as food. 

 Some of them attain a very large size, and others do not 



