rut: rn-Koo GURNARD. 186 



given to it mi account <>f the sharp -pin.", with which its head is armed, no less than ight 

 sharp and four rather l>luiit piickl.-s ln-ing fouml mi tin- hrail. Tin- rays of tin- dorsal and 

 jNTtoral tins aiv also sharply ]N>int-d. so that it must be cautiously handled by those who 

 "i*h to escape w.'umi.Mi lingers. This is a much pi.'i 1 ies than the preceding flub, its 



IxNiy U-in- iidi piirpl.- -In-own, muttliil with a warm red hii.-. an>l in tin* adult male then- an- 

 Mini*- stlipei Q| !! n the [lectoral lins, and the abdomen i- l.n_-liil\ <[< ..MI.-.] \\ith --ii\>- 

 MIOW\ white ciirulai s] Nits on J..-.v it... scarlet Its extreme length seldom exceeds eight in. h.--. 



ANOTHER and much IU..H- formidable species is the well-known FMIIM: I, \-IIKK, !. 

 -PINED COTTUS, or hi K^ I'I:..A< it (Cofttix W/,///M. In color tlii- -]>-. i,-- is very like the se* 

 scorpion, but it may be readily distinguished from that tl-h l-\ the army of long and .-harply- 

 !>; ines with which its head is armed. It is a rather large species, measuring ten 



inches in length. It is -0111111011 <>n European coasts, and like the preceding species, may be 

 taken in the rock pools at low water. 



TUB FOUR-HORNED Corrrs (Cotiu* quadricorui.\ may l- easily known by the four bony 

 protuleranoes on the crown of the head. There are four spin,.- mi the jirjpoi)eiruliim. Its 

 ml color is brown above, and grayish-white In-low, tin- -.ides ln-ing yellow. The lateral 

 line is m:irk.-d with rough points. 



TIIK generic name of IMatyeephalus, which is appropriately given to this and the other 

 fish placed in the same group, is of Greek origin, ami sanities Broad-head. 



The head is of great width, l>ut also of v.-ry considei-.iMe flatness. It is even wider in 

 proportion than that of the Imll-head. Imt is narrower towards the snout and not so rounded. 

 The bo<ly is also flattened in front, bi^t assumes a more cylindrical form towards the tail. 



The ARMED Pi..\ i \ - KI-II \\ i - is n -markahle for the great length of the lower spine which 

 proceeds from the priropeiriilum, and which ivai-ln-> almost to the edge of the elongated oper- 

 iMilum. It is also v-ry wide and stnmg, l-iiig. ind.-ed. about four times us large as the spine 

 immediately above it. There are three little spines in front of tin- >-\>\ Its color is brown, 

 inottlt-d ami spotted on the fins with deeper and lighter shades of the same color. 



\Vi: now come to the typical genus of this family, which is represented by several well- 

 known species. 



The SAPI-HIRINE GURNARD, so called from the line, deep blue which tints the inner surface 

 of the pectoral fins, is of tolerably common occurrence. 



This seems to be the most valuable of nim- s^Ties, In-ing, like all the others, excellent for 

 the table, but exceeding them considerably in size. The name of Hirundn, or swallow, has been 

 given to this fish on account of the great size of the pectoral fins, which are almost as propor- 

 tionately large to the dimensions of the fish as the wings of the swallow to the bird. Putting 

 aside the great development of these members and their rich blue color, the Sapphirine Gur- 

 nard may be distinguished from the other species by the extreme smoothness of the Literal 

 line, which maybe nibbed with the finger in either direction without exhibiting the spiny 

 roughness which is found in other (Jurnanls. In cons'<juence of this structure, the ti-h. mien 

 sometimes call the fish the Smoothside (J nrnard. 



All the scales of this species are very small. The large head Is armed with spines, some 

 springing from just before the eye, and others from the operculum and the shoulder. 



Of several other species of Gurnard, may be nu-ntioned the CUCKOO GURNARD (7V/V" 

 pint), sometimes called the RED GURNARD from the color of its body. This is a very common 

 species, and when young may be found in the nick pools at low water, measuring only a few 

 inches in length, but perfectly exhibiting tin- characters <>f its genus. The s]-<'iti.' title of 

 "pini," or belonging to the pine-tree, is given to the Cuckoo Gurnard on account of the 

 peculiar aspect of the lateral line, which is crossed with numerous short, straight, narrow, and 

 elevated lines, which have been compared by some writers to the needle-shaped leaves of the 

 I'ine. The name of Cuckoo Gurnard is given to it, because w h.-n it is first taken out of the 

 water it emits a sound which bears a distant resemblance to the cuckoo's cry. The curious 

 soft rays which project from the base of the pectoral fin in this and other Gurnards are 



