72 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



west coast of Africa and from the Atlantic to the Indian 

 Ocean, but seems to be absent from the east coast of 

 Africa, the shores of India, and contiguous islands. 



i. Streaked Gurnard (Trigla lineata). 



Names. Lineated gurnard ; French gurnard ; rock gur- 

 nard ; rabbit-fish. 



B. vii. D. 9- 1 1 | 16-17, V.4-, A. 16, L. 1. 66, Csec. pyl. 10, 

 Vert. 44. 



Length of head 4^ to 4f ; height of body 5 to 5^ in 

 the total length. Eye. High up, almost touching the 

 dorsal profile, \\ to if diameters in the postorbital portion 

 of the head, 2 diameters from the end of the snout, and 

 f to I diameter apart. Interorbital space deeply concave ; 

 profile of snout descends abruptly, is almost vertical in the 

 adult. Two or three spines at the anterior-superior angle 

 of the orbit. Bones of the head with stellated ridges. 

 Angle of preopercle usually with blunt but sometimes with 

 sharp projections : supra scapular roughened along its 

 upper edge and terminating posteriorly in a sharp spine : 

 scapular strongly ridged, likewise terminating in a strong 

 spine. The maxilla does not reach to beneath the eye. 

 Teeth. Fine in the jaws, present or absent from the vomer : 

 none on the palatines or tongue. Fins. Second dorsal 

 spine the longest, roughened anteriorly. Pectoral reaching 

 to above the third to the seventh anal ray. Lateral line. 

 With about 66 denticulated and serrated spines, equal to 

 half the number of the rows of scales above the lateral line : 

 the keeled row along the bases of the dorsal fins well 

 developed, and consisting of about 25 scales. Passing from 

 the back down the sides are numerous raised lines or ridges 

 which give the fish its characteristic appearance. Air- 

 bladder. Oval, rounded at either end. Colours lake su- 



