126 The Gurnards. 



\vith his walking stick and secured it. It proved to be a flying- 

 fish measuring 15 inches in length. 



G-urnard and Bullhead Families (CoHl<lr<) and allies. As a 

 matter of convenience we propose to include three families 

 under this heading. 



Fam. CottitlcB.Qt the GURNARDS (Trigla) nearly all the 

 British species frequent our coasts and estuaries. Some of 

 them are neither so big, so numerous, nor such marketable 

 fish as on the S.W. English Channel or partly E. coast. 

 The following five sorts are recorded as common at Dover 

 (Webb) : (1) The STREAKED or STRIATED GURNARD (T. lineata); 

 (2) the GRKY or BLOCK'S GURNARD (T. gurnardus) ; (3) the 

 PIPER (T. lyra) ; (4) the TUB-FISH or SAPPHARINE GURNARD (T. 

 hirundo) ; (5) the ELLBGK, RED or CUCKOO GURNARD (T. cuculn*). 



Under Striated Gurnard, presumably the Streaked Gurnard, 

 is mentioned in Boys' Sandwich Fishes, and a small one has 

 come under our observation in the Thames estuary. 



The Grey Gurnard, most readily distinguished by its short 

 breast fins, Dr. Laver has only once caught in numbers, during 

 September, off Mersea island. Dale got it in Harwich harbour. 

 It is not unusual " off the land," Sheppey coast (Gilson),' 

 more frequent in the Leigh middle-ground, though rarely as 

 high up stream as the Chapman ; and small ones are got near 

 Southend (Tyrrel). The /7s/i-trawlers, shrimpers and whelk 

 baiters each take a moderate number. Sometimes they are 

 obtained full-roed, though our information thereon is restricted. 

 They and Red Gurnard come to market at Ramsgate and 

 Folkestone, but both are chiefly eaten at Leigh for home con- 

 sumption only, few falling into the fishmongers' hands. The 

 fish are small, 7 to 10 inches at most, and only the largest in 

 spawning condition. Our knowledge of its Thames migrations 

 is limited, yet this fish possesses considerable interest, and 

 deserves further attention.* 



* For instance, concerning said Grey Gurnard and other fish, there has been much 

 thorny argument. Consult Dr. Fulton " Review of Trawling Experiments of 

 Garland, 1886-1895," in 14th Ann. Rep. S.F.B. for 1895; also 17th Ann. Rep. for 1898 



