COTTUS.] PISCES (OSSEI) ACANTHOPT. 343 



One of the most common species on the British coasts. Pennant states 

 that it sometimes attains the length of two feet and a half; it is however 

 usually found much less. Said to keep near the bottom, preying on shells 

 and Crustacea. According to Bloch, spawns in May and June. 



15. T. Cuculus, Bl. {Red Gurnard.) Constantly 

 red, with a black spot on the first dorsal: this last with 

 the first three rays smooth, without granulations. 



T. Cuculus, Block, Ichth. pi. 59. Mont, in Went. Mem. vol. n. 

 p. 457. Flem. Brit. An. p. 215. T. Blochii, Yarr. Brit. Fish. 

 vol. i. p. 50. Red Gurnard, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. HI. p. 278. 

 pi. 57. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. HI. p. 373. pi. 66. Le Grondin Rouge, 

 Cuv. et Vol. Poiss. torn. iv. p. 48. Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 160. 



LENGTH. From nine to twelve inches. 



DE SCRIPT. Distinguished from the last species, which it closely re- 

 sembles in all its other characters, by the first three spines in the dorsal 

 \fin not being granulated, but simply with a few denticulations on the 

 anterior edges of the first two : the crests likewise of the scales on the 

 dorsal ridges are not crenated as in the Grey Gurnard, but entire, each 

 terminating in a little point. Colour constantly red, with a conspicuous 

 black spot on the upper part of the first dorsal, extending from the second 

 to the fifth spine. From the T. Pini, it is easily distinguished, by the 

 serratures of the lateral line, and the absence of the transverse striae. 



D. 819; A. 18; C. 11, besides short ones; P. 11, and 3; V. 1/5. 



Number of vertebrae thirty-seven. 



Never attains the size of the T. Gurnardus, and is not so abundant. 

 The above description is from specimens taken at Weymouth. It is 

 doubtful whether the Cuculus of Willughbv* be this species or the 

 T. Pini. 



GEN. 5. COTTUS, Linn. 



16. C. Gobio, Linn. (Bull-head.) Head nearly 

 smooth : preopercle armed with a single spine. 



C. Gobio, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 452. Bloch, Ichth. pi. 39. f. 2, 

 Don. Brit. Rsh. vol. iv. pi. 80. Flem. Brit. An. p. 216. Bull- 

 head, or Millers Thumb, Witt. Hist. Pise. p. 137. tab. H. 3. f.3. 

 River Bull-head, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. m. p. 216. pi. 39. Id. (Edit 

 1812.) vol. ni. p. 291. pi. 43. Bowd. Brit. fr. wat. Fish. Draw. 24. 

 Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 56. Le Chabot de riviere, Cuv. et Vol. 

 Poiss. torn. iv. p. 106. Cuv. Reg. An. torn. H. p. 162. 



LENGTH. From three to four, rarely five, inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Head very large, occupying one-third of the 

 whole length; as broad as long; somewhat depressed above, rounded 

 in front : body gradually tapering from behind the nape : greatest depth 

 beneath the first dorsal, equalling one-fifth of the entire length : gape 

 very wide ; jaws equal; both armed, as well as the fore part of the vomer, 

 with fine teeth like velvet : eyes small, placed on the upper part of the 

 head, a little inclined ; somewhat nearer together in the male than in the 

 female: head smooth, without spines, covered, as well as the whole body, 



* Hist. Pise. p. 281. . 7- 



