FAMILY TRIGLID^ ; GURNARDS, BULL-HEADS, STICKLEBACKS. 49 



several large plates which cover the cheeks. The head is also 

 usually armed with spines. Among these we may mention the 

 Triylce, or Gurnards; of which we have several species on our 

 own coasts ; they are known by the square form of their heads. 

 The pectoral fins are usually large ; and in an allied genus, the 

 Dactylopterus, or Flying Gurnard, they are of sufficient size to 

 support the animal for a time out of the water (Fig. 351). The 

 Gurnards emit a curious grunting or croaking noise at intervals, 

 when taken out of the sea ; this they continue for some time, 

 and it is from this that their name is derived. They are very 

 tenacious of life ; and mostly swim near the bottom of the water. 

 The swimming-bladder is usually large, and furnished with 

 powerful muscles for its compression. To this group also be- 

 longs the Coitus, or Bull-head, which has a large and horizon- 

 tally-flattened head, eyes looking upwards, and its skin almost 

 destitute of scales, and of a dusky hue : it lurks among stones in 

 the beds of rivulets ; and its food consists of aquatic insects or 

 small worms. The Scorpance, or Hog Fish, have the head flat- 

 tened sideways, armed with spines, and adorned with curious 

 membranous lobes and filaments ; they are marine fishes, asso- 

 ciating in shoals, and haunting the rocky shores. Allied to these 

 is the Sebastes, or Norway Haddock, which inhabits the northern 

 seas, and is an important article of food ; the Greenlanders use 

 its long spines as needles. Also belonging to this group is the 

 Gasterosteus, or Stickleback, of which there are several species, 

 some inhabiting salt water, and others fresh. The body has no 

 proper scales, but is more or less plated at the sides ; and the 

 abdomen is covered by a sort of cuirass, formed by a union of 

 the pelvic and humeral bones. The common name of these fish 

 is derived from the circumstance, that instead of possessing two 

 dorsal fins, they have only one, the anterior being replaced by a 

 set of sharp spines varying in number ; whilst the ventral fin is in 

 the form of a sharp spine without any rays. These fishes are 

 active arid rapacious, attacking other fishes with great ferocity, 

 and devouring almost any small animal that comes within their 

 reach. The Fifteen-spined Stickleback has been seen to undergo 

 remarkable changes in its hue, under the influence of terror. 



VOL. II. 



