622 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



in shape, with short muzzles; they have a habit of burying themselves 

 in the sand, and are formidable to fishermen, from the dangerous 

 wounds they inflict with their spines. Trachinus communis (Fig. 394) 

 is widely diffused in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Another 

 genus, Uranoscopns, is so named from the position of the eyes, which 

 are directed towards the sky, from otyai/bs, the heavens, and <r/coire, I 

 regard. From this peculiar arrangement, they can only see above 

 them. Uranoscopns vulgaris (Fig. 395) belongs to the Mediterranean, 



Fig. 393. The Pipe-fish (Fistularia tabacaria.) 



and is remarkable for its thick cubical head and erect spiny dorsal 

 fins. 



A third family is that of the Mullets (Mullidce], They have the 

 body thick and oblong, the profile of the head approaching the ver- 

 tical line ; scales large, two dorsal fins, widely separated, the rays of 

 the first spinous, of the second, flexible ; two cirri at the lower jaw. 

 Several species are known, two are inhabitants of our west and 

 south-west coasts : the Striped or Red Mullet (Mnllus siirmulletm\ 

 not rare as British, and the Red Mullet (M. barbatus). The first is a 

 fine bright vermilion red, with three dominating yellow lines ; the 

 throat, breast, ventral, and lower surface of the tail are white, slightly 

 tinged with rose ; the fins have their rays more or less red, the iris of 



