GEN. TRIGLA. SHINING GURNARD. 149 



dorsal ridge being strongly serrated ; and in these 

 particulars it differs from all others : but then there 

 are some Naturalists who hold that it is nothing 

 more than the young of the preceding species. 

 Dr. Parnell distinctly states, that if we examine 

 specimens of the two alleged species, nine inches in 

 length, they will be found to possess common cha- 

 racters, " and in no instances," says this inde- 

 fatigable observer, " have I found a young of the 

 Grey Gurnard possessing the character of an adult ; 

 but bearing always those which are assigned to the 

 Blochii" The usual size of the fish now under 

 review is only nine or ten inches. Some maintain 

 that it is rare, whilst others give a contrary testi- 

 mony. " In the month of August," says Dr. Parnell, 

 " in a pool near Queensferry, a number remained 

 in the same pool for five weeks, although the tide 

 covered them daily with three feet of water : they 

 did not appear in the least shy, but swam about iu 

 shoals, one always taking the lead : when they 

 were suddenly approached, they became stationary, 

 and erected their first dorsal fin, which, with the 

 black spot on the upper part of each, gave the 

 shoal a beautiful appearance ; when they were un- 

 molested, this fin became deflexed. In those I 

 examined, their stomachs were filled with small 

 Shrimps and Star-fish." (Wern. Mem., vii. 128). 



(Sp. J8.) T. lucerna. The Shining Gurnard, or 

 Long-finned Captain. (PL III.) This species, the 

 Lucerna of Briinnich, not that of Linnaeus, and still 

 less of Pliny, was introduced into the British Fauna. 



