30 bloch's gurnard. 



of the first dorsal ray, if such had been the fact; and when 

 he adds the remark that many examples are taken in summer 

 on the coast of Devon in shore nets, we may safely venture 

 to conclude that he neither refers to the lied Gurnard of Bloch's 

 figure, nor to the scarce species we shall presently describe. 

 A similar observation will apply to Mr. Jenyns, and Mr. 

 Thompson, of Belfast. The last-named writer particularly 

 points out the discrepencies which occur in some writers as 

 regards this fish, and especially that one which concerns the 

 relative height of the spinous rays; which latter particular is 

 not referred to by Mr. Jenyns, although he mentions as an 

 important character the presence or absence of rough granu- 

 lations along the anterior border of the first two rays; a 

 circumstance which, as I have already noticed, is exceedingly 

 liable to vary in the species to which I suppose him to refer, 

 that is, our common EUeck, where it is sometimes conspicuous, 

 and at others entirely wanting. 



AVithout seeking to dispel the cloud of obscurity which 

 thus rests upon the fish of Bloch, I will proceed to describe 

 a species which, if not the same, is nearly allied to it, and 

 beyond question different from all that have already passed 

 under our notice. A particular account of it (with a figure) 

 was first published in the "Zoologist" for the year 1846, from 

 which again the following particulars are for the most part 

 derived. It is to be added that I have seen two or three 

 examples, at a considerable distance of time from each other, 

 and that another is reported to me as having been taken in 

 the Mount's Bay. 



The length of the example described was twenty-six inches, 

 and round the body, where thickest, the girth fifteen inches 

 and a half; the shape much like that of the Tubfish, f T. 

 hirundo,J but from the eyes to the snout more lengthened and 

 pointed, consequently less abrupt; the head more roughly 

 marked Avith similar stellated lines, and more effectually 

 armed. The snout was deeply bifurcated, and each section 

 was formed of three roundish distinct teeth, in this respect 

 more closely resembling the Piper than the other British 

 species of Gurnard. From the snout to the centre of the 

 eye it measured four inches; summit of the head wide and 

 flat, in which it resembles the Tubfish in a particular in which 



