142 GEXERA AND SPECIES 



The Sapphirine Gurnard has 9 spines in the first dorsal, 16 or 

 17 rays in the second, 15 or 16 rays in the anal, 12 in the caudal, 10 

 in the pectorals, and a spine and 5 rays in the ventrals. The lateral 

 line is without spines, but along the base of the dorsals is a row of 

 about 25 spiny plates. In colour it is a brownish red, the pectorals 

 having a good deal of blue in them, the dorsal being reddish, the 

 caudal purplish, and the filaments red. It is 24 inches long, and 

 lives near the bottom in water of moderate depth, sometimes rising 

 to the surface. It grunts like the other gurnards. 



The Grey Gurnard has 8 or 9 spines in the first dorsal, 19 rays 

 in the second, 18 or 19 rays in the anal, 15 in the caudal, 10 in the 

 pectorals, and a spine and 5 rays in the ventrals. In the lateral line 

 are from 73 to 76 scales, armed with short spines. In colour it is 

 slaty grey, generally with white spots or lines ; below it is white. Its 

 extreme length seems to be about 24 inches. It is found in shoals, 

 keeping to the bottom as a rule, but frequently swimming close to 

 the surface and grunting with satisfaction. It croons as it is taken 

 from the water. 



The Piper has 9 or 10 spines in its first dorsal, 16 or 17 

 rays in the second, 16 rays in the anal, 12 in the caudal, 10 in the 

 pectorals, and a spine and 5 rays in the ventrals. The third dorsal 

 spine is the longest, the curve of the fin being rounder than in the 

 other species. The lateral line is without spines, but there are 25 

 or more spiny elevations along the base of the dorsals. The pre- 

 orbital is extended into a broad, triangular plate, which is toothed 

 in front and projects over the snout. The colour is bright red above, 

 white beneath, the fins being red. It is rather larger than the other 

 species, and is of the same habits. It grunts like the others ; but, 

 when taken from the water, instead of crooning, it hisses, and from 

 this hiss or whistle it derives its name. 



The Lanthorn Gurnard has 10 spines in its first dorsal, 17 or 18 

 rays in the second, 17 rays in the anal, 12 in the caudal, 10 in the 

 pectorals, and a spine and 5 rays in the ventrals. The second spine 

 of the dorsal is very long. The lateral line is marked by spineless, 

 lineated plates, but there are spiny plates along the base of the 

 dorsals. There are spines on the head and gill-covers, as in all the 

 species. The thin filaments are rather more slender than in the 

 other gurnards. The colour is bright red above and whitish below, 

 separated from each other by a wide silvery stripe. The pectorals 

 are blue, the other fins red. In size it does not exceed 12 inches. It 

 is the rarest of the British species. 



Trygon. Plate xxxiii. TRYGONID&. 



252. pastinaca, STING RAY. Disk pyriform, front ejge straight, angle 

 rounded, hind edge convex. 



There is a long serrated spine on the tail, but no fins. The 

 body is raised along the line of the backbone. The skin is smooth, 

 with occasionally a few tubercles along the back. The mouth is 

 small and the teeth are small. The colour varies above, but is 

 always white below ; the length reaches 33 inches. The Sting 

 Rav is found in shallow water where the bottom is soft and oozy. 



