GEN. TRIGLA. THE GURNARDS. 147 



iridescent, which makes the fish peculiarly brilliant. 

 The Dieppe fishermen maintain it never exceeds 

 four inches in length. In the pools left by the re- 

 tiring tide, it affords great amusement to youthful 

 bathers, and it is taken in great quantities by the 

 shrimpers. 



(Sp. 15.) T. lyrci. The Piper. According to 

 Cuvier, this species is very readily recognised by 

 the strength of its spinous armour. Rondelet gave 

 it the name of Lyra, not only from the noise it 

 emits, like its congeners, and whence the English 

 name Piper, but because the denticulated processes, 

 which divide the snout have some distant resem- 

 blance to the instrument just named. It is rather 

 rare on the British coasts, but has been noticed oft* 

 Devonshire, on our western shores, and in Belfast 

 Bay. It is well known in the Mediterranean ; at- 

 tains the length of two feet and upwards ; and, as 

 food, is considered excellent. 



(Sp. 16.) T. gurnardus. The Grey Gurnard 

 has its lateral line sharply serrated ; the pectorals 

 are about the size of the ventrals, and the profile of 

 the face is concave : the length is from fifteen to 

 twenty inches, sometimes two feet, and very rarely 

 somewhat more. Above, the colour is grey, clouded 

 with brown, and spotted with yellow, white, and 

 black ; beneath, silvery white. It spawns, accord- 

 ing to Bloch, in May and June. This species is 

 common in the British seas, along the southern 

 coasts, and the eastern, as far as the Orkneys ; they 

 are also common on the western coasts, and have 



