300 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Grey gurnard Red gurnard. 



In the western parts of the British coast, where 

 it is most frequently caught, the meaner sort of 

 people parboil, and afterwards steep it in pickle, 

 calling it a " sous'd gurnet," a dish which was 

 consequently never esteemed, as appears from 

 FalstarTs words, (Henry IV. Part II.) which are 

 prefixed to this chapter. 



The grey gurnard has a long tapering body, 

 and a larger head than the other species of gur- 

 nards. On the sides of the head are observed 

 several stars, consisting of a great number of 

 small silvery points, streaked at intervals with 

 red. It is found in the German ocean, in the 

 Baltic, and on the coasts of South America. In 

 the Baltic it is usually about a foot and a half in 

 length, but on the English shores from two to 

 three feet. Frezier relates, that it is found in 

 great numbers on the coast of Chili, in the road 

 of Valparaiso, and that its flesh is of very good 

 flavor. The gurnard inhabits the bottom of the 

 sea, where it seeks crabs and muscles. It spawns 

 in May and June. At that season it repairs to 

 the coasts, where it deposits its eggs. The gur- 

 nard is so voracious as to bite at bait of any 

 kind of fish, or even at a piece of red cloth. 



The red gurnard receives its name from its 

 brilliant red color, and is distinguished by a 

 black spot on the first dorsal fin. It is found in 

 the same waters as the grey gurnard, and also 

 near the Cape of Good Hope. It does not ex- 

 ceed a foot in length. It is extremely beautiful 



