142 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Gdrnards. 



chiostegoiis rays.Rnd a single dorwil fin. the antenor 

 portion of which is supported by spinous rays ; the 

 teeth are fine, strong, recurved, and closely set ; tlie 

 privopercuUim is serrated, and the operculum with a 

 spine directed backwards. 



The black basse or bJack perch is abundant in 

 the rivers of the United States of America, where 

 it attains to a large siie, and is in much request for 

 the table. When young, the caudal fin is remark- 

 able lor a central point between the upper and 

 under points, which are much produced. In old 

 individuals, this additional apex becomes almost 

 obsolete. In the young stage, this species is 

 the Perca trifurca of Linnsus. the Lutgan trilobc 

 of I^cepide. The general colour of this species 

 above is intense olive green, passing into pinkish on 

 the under parts; the dorsal fin is bluish with paler 

 streaks ; the other fins arc deep blue ; the caudal 

 fin is i-potted. 



2382.— Artedi's Polynemus 

 (Polifnemus Artedli. Renn.). The genus Polynemus 

 belongs to that section of the Percidae characterized 

 by Cuvier as having the ventral fins placed more 

 backward than the pectoral fins, while under the 

 latter are long filaments, free rays of those fins, not 

 united by membi-ane to the rest. The teeth are 

 minute and so densely crowded, as to resemble the 

 pile of velvet, or rather the teeth of a carding ma- 

 chine. They are found on both jaws as well as on 

 the vomer and palate bones ; the eyes are large, the 

 doi-sal fins widely separated ; the caudal fin is ample, 

 and more or less forked. The prseoperculum is ser- 

 rated, and the operculum many-spined. 



Artedi's Polynemus was confounded by Cuvier 

 with an allied species from the Bay of Bengal, and 

 the estuaries of the Ganges, known as the Tupsee 

 or Mango fish (P. longitilis. Cuv.), and was first 

 discriminated by the late E. T. Bennett, Esq., who 

 described it in the ' Proceeds. Zool. Soc," Nov. 1831, 

 p. 140. It is a native of the Atlantic coast of 

 Northern Africa. Like the Mango fish it is re- 

 markable for the length of five free pectoral rays, 

 on each side, extending beyond the body. 



2383.— The Four-ra.yed Polynemus 



{Polynemus gaadrifilis). This species is also from 

 the African coast, but the four free rays of the pec- 

 toral fins are comparatively short. 



The following is an interesting extract of some 

 observations, relative to several of the Indian species 

 of this genus, in the 'Proceeds. Zool. Soc.,' July, 

 1839, by Dr. Cantor :— 



"In the December number, 1838, of Parbury's 

 ' Oriental Herald,' appears a letter ' On the Suleah 

 Fish of Bengal, and the Isinglass it affords:' the 

 description of this fish I shall quote in the words of 

 the anonymous writer. 'The Suleah Fish,' he ob- 

 serves, ' when at its full size, runs about four feet in 

 length, and is squalilorm, resembling the shark 

 species in appearance, but exhibiting a more deli- 

 cate structure than the latter. The meat of this 

 fish is exceedingly coarse, and is converted by the 

 natives, when salted and spiced, into "burtah," a 



Siquant relish, well known at the breakfast tables of 

 iengal. The bladder of the Suleah may be consi- 

 dered the most valuable part of it, which, when ex- 

 posed to the sun and suffered to dry, becomes purely 

 pellucid, and so hard that it will repel the edge of a 

 sharp knife when applied to it. These bladders 

 vary from half a pound to three-quarters of a pound 

 avoirdupois in weight, when perfectly dry ... . The 

 Suleah Fish abounds in Channel Creek, off Saugor, 

 and in the ostia or mouths of all the rivers which 

 intersect the Sunderbuns, and are exceedingly plen- 

 tiful at certain seasons.' 



" Conceiving the great importance of the dis- 

 covery of isingla-os being a product of India, I was 

 naturally anxious to examine the source, arising 

 from a branch of natural history to which in parti- .. 

 cular I have devoted my attention ; but from the I 

 gen'iral nature of the description, I was obliged to i 

 defer my desire of identifying the fish till some 

 future opportunity should enable me to do so. Quite 

 unexpectedly, however, a few days ago, the last 

 overland despatch brought me a letter from my 

 valued friend M. McClelland, a corresponding mem- 

 ber of this Society, an extract of which, bearing upon 

 the point in question. I lose no time in laying before 



the Society : — ' I have now to mention what is 



of far greater importance in another point of view, 

 namely, that the Suleah Fish described in a recent 

 number of Parbury's ' Oriental Herald ' is the Poly- 

 nemus Sele of Hamilton. I have examined that 

 species, and found an individual of two pounds 

 weight to yield sixty-five grains of pure isinglass, an 

 article which here sells at sixteen rupees (U. 12s.) 

 per lb. Refer to your dissections of Polynemi ; 

 mark those with large air-vessels to be isinglass, re- 

 quiring no other preparation than merely removing 

 the vascular membrane that covers them, washing 

 with lime-water, and drying in the sun. You know 

 the size these fishes attain, andlhe number in which 



they abound in the Stinderbuns; you also know the 

 method of taking them, and can therefore state to 

 what extent isinglass may be obtained in India. I 

 htve sent a paper on the subject to the .lournal of 

 the •.\8iatic Society, which I will send you by the 

 next overland despatch.' " 



Family LORICATI (HARD-CHEEKED ACAN- 



THOITERYGIANS, as GURNARDS, &c.). 

 The Loricati are described by Cuvier as fishes of 

 singular aspect, having the head variously spined 

 and cuirassed, but in many respects approaching 

 the Percidae. 



2384. — The Streaked Gurnaro. 



(Ttigla lineata). The Gurnards, of which we have 

 several British species, are known by the squared 

 form of the head, covered with bony plates, the gill- 

 cover and shoulder-plate ending in a spine directed 

 backwards : the body is tapering ; there are two 

 dorsal fins ; the rays of the first are spinous. Teeth 

 in both jaws and on the vomer, small, pointed, and 

 numerous. Branchiostegous rays seven ; gill-open- 

 ing large : three detached rays at the base of each 

 pectoral fin. The Sapphirine Gurnard, Trigla Hi- 

 nindo, is common in the fishmongers' shops of 

 London, with its ample pectoral tins spread out, 

 giving it a strange appearance. When taken out 

 of the sea these fishes emit a grunting or croaking 

 noise at intei-vals, for a considerable time. They 

 are very tenacious of life, and mostly swim near the 

 bottom in deep water. The swimming-bladder is 

 large, in some species simple, in others divided into 

 two or three lobes, with strong lateral compressor 

 muscles. Their food consists principally of Crus- 

 tacea. 



The streaked gurnard is a rare species near our 

 shores, but is common in the Mediterranean, about 

 the Canary Islands, and Teneriffe. It seldom ex- 

 ceeds twelve or fourteen inches in length. The 

 head of this species is short, the profile abruptly 

 oblique ; the spines about the head are moderate ; 

 and the body exhibits transverse lines extending 

 from the ridge of the back down each side, every 

 line consisting of two rows of square ciliated scales. 

 The general colour of the body .and fins is a rich 

 red ; the latter are often marbled and edged with a 

 darker tint; the pectoral fins are marbled trans- 

 versely with blue. Under parts white. 



2385.— The Piper 



{Trvjla Lyra). This species, like the preceding, 

 is rare about our shores, but is common in the Me- 

 diterranean. It measures about two feet in length, 

 and weighs between three and four pounds. Its 

 name of Piper is supposed to be derived from the 

 noise it utters when captured, and which is doubt- 

 less occasioned by the forcible pressure cf the 

 muscles on the swimming bladder. Its flesh is con- 

 sidered excellent. The head of the piper is large ; 

 the nasal projections considerable ; the opercular 

 spines bold and sharp ; the serrations of the ridge 

 of the back very decided. The general colour is a 

 brilliant red, pas.sing on the under parts into silvery 

 white. 



2386. — The Indian Flying Gurnard 



{Dactylopterus orientalis). Flying-fishes, as they 

 are termed, occur in two very distinct orders : there 

 are the Flying Gurnards of the Acanthopter)'gious 

 order; and the Flying-Fishes of the Malacoplerygious 

 order, constituting the genus Exocetus; and be- 

 tween these in their narratives voyagers seldom dis- 

 criminate. We read their accounts, but are left in 

 complete uncertainty not only as to the species, but 

 the general characters of the fish whose aerial 

 evolutions they are detailing. 



The flying gurnards (Dactylopterus) may be at 

 once distinguished from the ordinary gurnards by 

 the enormous development of the pectoral fins, 

 or rather, of the subpectoral rays, which are free 

 in the latter, but are in these species enormously 

 lengthened, very numerous, and connected together 

 by a fine membrane. The muzzle is very short and 

 abrupt; the jaws are paved with rounded teeth; 

 th"; prsBoperculum terminates in a long sharp spine, 

 constituting a formidable weapon ; the eyes are 

 large ; the scales are all keeled. 



Two species are known, — the Common Flying 

 Gurnard (D. volitans), abundant in the Mediterra- 

 nean ; brown above, rose-coloured below, with the 

 fins varied with blue on a black ground. It varies 

 from a foot to fifteen inches in length. 



The Indian Flying Gurnard is a native of the 

 Indian seas, and attains the length of twenty inches. 

 Shoals of these fishes pursued by the dolphin, or 

 bonito, having attained the necessary impetus in 

 their course, suddenly rise into the air, where they 

 skim onwards sustained for a short time by tlieir 

 ample quivering pectoral fins, presenting a beauti- 

 ful spectacle. After a brief career they descend 

 again into the waters, and again re-appear at a dis- 

 tance, and thus often continue till beyond reach of 



sight, all the lime chased by their pereevering ene- 

 mies. When the flying-fish rises, it is exposed to 

 fresh assailants. The frigat'e-bird and the albutrossare 

 sailing on wide-spread wings over the sea, walching 

 the movements of its finny fenant.s, and ready to 

 sweep down with unerring aim upon the hapless 

 fish that approaches the surface, or rises above it. 

 Though these and other fishes are said to fly, their 

 flight is a mere skim through the air, eft'ected by 

 the parachute of their pectoral fins; to rise above 

 the surface and dart onwards they require a powerful 

 impulse, and this is given by their rapid course pre- 

 viously, and by a sudden and vigorous action of the 

 fail at the moment of rising. It is interesting to 

 find animals thus furnished with parachutes among 

 the mammalia, among the lizards, and among fishes. 



2387. — The River Bullhead, or Miller's 

 Thumb 



{Coitus Gobio). In the genus Cotfus the head is 

 large and depressed ; there arc sharp small teeth on 

 the vomer, and in the jaws. The gill-covers are 

 armed with spines; branchiostegous rays six. Body 

 slender, naked, without scales. Two dorsal fins ; 

 ventral fins small. 



This little strange-looking fish is common in all 

 the clear fresh-water streams of our islands, and the 

 continent of Europe. We have seen it in abun- 

 dance in small rivulets running over a gravelly or 

 rocky bed, under the stones of which it generally 

 lurks, or between the crevices, its dusky colour 

 aiding its concealment. When disturbed it darts 

 away very rapidly. Its food consists of the larv8B 

 of aquatic insects, and small worms, at which it 

 freely bites, but is seldom captured, except by chil- 

 dren. It spawns in summer. This well-known fish 

 rarely exceeds four or five inches in length. We 

 need not enter into a detailed description. Its eyes, 

 from the depression of the head, which is broad as 

 a miller's thumb, look upwards. 



2388. — The Japanese Pogge, or Armed 

 Bullhead. 



(Aspidophonis accipenserinus) ; Agonus accipen- 

 serinus, Bloch. 



In the genus Aspidophorus the body is octagonal, 

 covered with scaly plates; the head is thick, with 

 points and depressions above, flattened below ; 

 teeth in the jaws only ; snout with recurved spines; 

 branchiostegous rays six; body long and tapering; 

 two dorsal fins distinct. 



One species, the Common Pogge, is found in our 

 seas. It is of small size, about six inches in 

 length, occurring in the Baltic, along the coast of 

 Norway, and in the Northern Sea to Greenland and 

 Iceland. It is also tolerably common along our 

 southern coast, and still more so on the eastern, 

 and is frequently taken at the mouth of the Thames.^ 

 The body is divided longitudinally by eight scaly 

 ridges, and defended by eight rows of strong scaly 

 plates ; the under jaw is furnished with several 

 minute eirrhi ; and the nose has three recurved 

 spines. The Japanese Pogge is clearly allied to 

 the British species, and is found in the North Pacific 

 Ocean, along the coast of Japan, and northwards a» 

 far as Behring's Straits. Its food consists of small 

 crustaceans. 



2389. — The Fifteen-spinkd Stickleback 



{Gasterosleus spmocJiia, Linn.). The Sticklebacks 

 are little fishes found respectively both in fresh and 

 salt water, having the body without scales, but more 

 or less plated on the sides : there is only one dorsal 

 fin with the free sharp spines, varying in number, 

 before it ; the ventral fin is in the form of a strong 

 spine without other rays; the abdomen is protected 

 by an osseous cuirass, formed by a union of the 

 pelvic and humeral bones. Branchiostegous rays 

 three. Of this genus Mr. Yarrell describes the 

 following British species. The Rough-tailed stickle- 

 back (G. trachurus), common in both salt and fresh 

 water; the Half-armed stickleback (G. semiarmatus), 

 found with the preceding ; the Smooth-tailed stickle- 

 back (G. leiurus), also common ; the Short-spined 

 stickleback (G. brachycentrus) found in the streams, 

 ponds, and sea of the north of Ireland ; the Four- 

 spined stickleback (G. spinulosus), found near Edin- 

 burgh ; the Ten-spined (G. pungitius), found both in 

 the sea and rivers; and the Filteen-spined stickle- 

 back (G. spiuacliia). The latter is of more elon- 

 gated form than the others, and is common around 

 our coast, and in the Baltic, seldom, however, as- 

 cending rivers. It is fierce and voracious, devouring 

 the fry of other fishes, crustaceans, &c. Like all 

 the sticklebaefis it is very pugnacious, attacking 

 other fishes with determined ferocity. Mr. Yarrell 

 gives the following account of its habits, as supplied 

 by Mr. Couch. " It keeps near rocks and stones 

 covered with seaweeds, among which it takes refuge 

 upon any alarm. Though less active than its breth- 

 ren of the fresh water, it is scarcely less rapacious. 

 On one occasion I noticed a specimen six inches in 

 length engaged in taking its prey from a clump of 



