64 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



PRIONOTUS LIJNEATUS, Dekay. 

 The Banded Gurnard. 

 (PLATE V. FIG. 4.) 



Trigla lineata, Gurnard or Sea-Robin, MITCHII.L, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 430, pi. 4, fig. 4. 

 Le Prionote strib, Prionotus strigatus, Cov. et VAL., iv. p. 86. 

 Prionotus strigalus, Regne Animal, ed. VAL., pi. 20, fig. 2. 



' ' Sea-Robin, Gurnard, Grunter, STOKER, Report, p. 12. 



' ' AYRES, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 258. 



' ' LINSLEY, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. 



Prionotus lin atus, Banded Gurnard, DEKAY, Report, p. 45, pi. 4, fig. 12. 



' ' STORER, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 302. 



' ' STORER, Synopsis, p. 50. 



Color. The recent specimen is of a reddish-brown color above, and the entire 

 surface, including the head, is covered with numerous black dots. The gill-covers 

 and intermaxillaries in some specimens are orange. The dead fish is of a slate- 

 color above the lateral line, with a few black dots irregularly distributed over its 

 surface, the sides are lighter, with a reddish tint ; abdomen white. Beneath the 

 lateral line, and parallel to it, runs a broader brownish line, which arises under the 

 humeral spine ; this line is broken at its posterior extremity with interrupted points 

 or spots. Beneath the anterior portion of this line are several broken brown bands. 

 The first dorsal fin is of a light reddish tint, with a black blotch upon the upper portion 

 of the membrane between the fourth and fifth, or third, fourth, and fifth rays. .The 

 anterior edge of the first three rays barred with black. The second dorsal is reddish. 

 The pectorals are fuliginous beneath and reddish above ; fuliginous also in centre of 

 upper portion, with numerous transverse black lines, which are more obvious at the 

 base of the fin. The ventrals are white. 



Description. Head broader than the body ; its length rather less than one third the 

 length of the fish ; its depth equal to more than half its length, and made up of seven 

 distinct bony plates, which form a perfect helmet of defence. The whole upper part 

 of the head, the occiput, the space between the eyes, and the portion anterior to the 

 snout, are composed of one plate ; this portion is roughened throughout its whole 

 extent by irregular corrugations, and terminates posteriorly in two strong, very acute 

 spines ; at the upper anterior and posterior angles of the eyes, minute spines are also 

 observed. This plate is emarginated anteriorly, deeply truncated posteriorly. The 

 operculum is a distinct plate, of an irregularly triangular form, having two spines at 

 its posterior extremity ; the lower larger and pointing directly back, the upper pointing 

 obliquely upwards ; this plate is covered with elevated striae radiating from the anterior 

 portion towards the circumference, and is separated from the preopercle by a membrane, 



