GREA T BRITAIN. 77 



or three small supraorbital spines. Teeth. Villiform on the 

 jaws and vomer, none on the palatines or tongue. Fins. 

 The second dorsal spine the longest. Pectoral does not 

 quite reach the anal, and is rather shorter than the ventral. 

 Scales. Small. Lateral-line. Armed with about 74 spinous 

 points, most distinct in the young. A ir-bladder. Notched 

 at its front-end, causing it to terminate in two obtuse 

 points. Colours. Vary widely, in some no white spots, the 

 upper half of the body being of a slatey-grey, and a black 

 blotch often is present on the first dorsal fin. The white 

 spots on the sides may run into narrow and sinuous lines, 

 or else there may be a dark net-work surrounding light 

 places. Habits. Gregarious, and are said to be the least 

 sensible to variations of the whole of the genus. They are 

 fond of sporting on the surface of the sea, rising and sinking, 

 and uttering short grunts as if of satisfaction. At other 

 times they appear to be asleep on the water. 



Means of capture. They readily take a bait, and are 

 even secured while whiffing at the surface. It is a quiet 

 swimmer. 



Breeds. Probably twice a year, in mid-winter and mid- 

 summer. Their eggs float and are found at some distance 

 from the shore. 



As food. It is good, but very inferior to the red gurnard, 

 partly from its lesser size. It is a good bait for lobster, 

 cray-fish, and even members of the cod family. 



Habitat. Northern Europe, the Baltic, round the British 

 Isles to the Mediterranean and Adriatic. It is the most 

 abundant of our local forms, extending northwards to the 

 Orkneys and Shetland Isles. It is very common along the 

 west coast of Scotland, also round Ireland. It has been 

 obtained up to 2~ ft. in length. 



