PIPER. ORDER IV. ABDOMINALES. LOA.CH. 283 



these the sides are of a pale hue, variegated with numerous 

 white spots. The belly is white ; the nose is pretty long 

 and sloping, with the end divided ; and each side is armed 

 with three short spines. Near the extremity of the gill- 

 covers is a long, sharp, strong spine ; and exactly above 

 the dorsal fins is another. 



There are several species of gurnards ; as the red, the 

 sapphirine, the streaked, and the yellow. Another, called 

 the king of the gurnards, receives its name from its supe- 

 rior size. It is destitute of barbs, has large scales, and 

 the body wholly red. This fish is found on the coasts in 

 the island of Malta. 



THE PIPER. 



The piper is frequently caught on the western coasts of 

 our island : it weighs upwards of three pounds, and its 

 flesh is greatly admired. The head and the upper part of 

 the body are very thick ; the nose is divided into two 

 broad plates, each terminated with three spines ; and on 

 the inner angle of each eye is also a strong spine. The 

 scales are small, hard, and rough. 



ORDER IV. ABDOMINALES. 



THIS order is distinguished by having the ventral fins 

 placed behind the pectoral in the abdomen. It compre- 

 hends seventeen genera, and about one hundred and thirty 

 species. 



THE LOACH, OR GROUNDLING. 



The loach is found in several English rivulets, particu- 

 larly near Amesbury, in Wiltshire. It keeps close to the 

 bottom, and seldom exceeds four inches in length. Sports- 

 men sometimes swallow it, for a whim, in a glass of white 

 wine. The mouth is small and destitute of teeth, and the 



