92 



CHAPTER Y. 



ORDER ACANTHOPTERYGII (conclude;!). 



THE TRACHiNiP.E-Uranoscopns Star -gazers- The Greater Weever, or Sea Cat The Lesser Weever THE MALACANTHID^ 

 THE BATRACHID.E THE PEDICULATI THE SEA DEVIL, OR ANGLEU Its Voracity The Genus Malthe COTTINA 

 THE MILLER'S THUMB, OR RIVER BULLHEAD THE SEA SCORPION, OR FATHER LASHER -The Gurnards THE 

 CATAPHRACTI THE COMEPHORID.E THE DISCOBOLI The Lump-sucker, or Lump-fish The Sea-Snail THE GOBIID/E 

 THE OXUDERCIDJE THE CEPOLID/E THE TRICHONOTIDA: THE HETEROLEPIDINA THE BLENNIID.E The Wolf- 

 fish, or Cat-fish The Butterfly Blenny The Shanny The Viviparous Blenny THE ACANTHOCLINIDJJ THE 

 MASTACEMBELIDJE THE SPHYR.ENID,E THE ATHERINIDA: -The Sand Smelt THE MUQILIDJB The Grey Mullet 

 THE GASTEROSTEIP.E STICKLEBACKS The Three-spined Stickleback Its Pugnacity The Nest The Ten-spined 

 Stickleback The Nest Tb.3 Fifteen-spined Stickleback, or Sea Adder The Nest THE FISTULARID.E, OR PIPE-FISHES 

 THE CENTRISCID.E The Trumpet-fish, or Bellows-fish THE GOBIESOCIDAS THE PSYCHROLUTID.E THE OPHIO- 

 CEPHALID.E The Walking-fish THE LABYRINTHICI Supra-branchial Organ The Climbing Perch THE LUCIOCEPHA- 

 E THE APHREDODERID.E THE LOPHOTID.E THE THACHYPTERID.E THE Nor ACANTHI. 



FAMILY XXV. - TR ACHINID^E. 



; THE Trachinidae are a family of carnivorous fishes comprising four or five groups of genera which feed 

 at the bottom and are met with on the shores of nearly all seas. The first group, Uranoscopina, in- 

 cludes several genera which have the eyes on the upper surface of the head, which is defended with 

 bony plates. The body in these fishes is sometimes naked and sometimes partly covered, or even 

 entirely covered, with small scales. The best known genus, Uranoscopus, comprises about ten species, 

 which are familiarly termed star-gazers. They are said to bury the snout in the sand and capture 

 their prey as it crawls slowly by them. Uranoscopus scaber occurs in the Mediterranean and off 

 the Canary Islands. The second group, Trachinina, has the eyes more or less at the sides of the head, 

 which is not armoured. Seven of the genera have the body covered with scales, and three are devoid 

 of scales. These fishes are represented in the British seas by the Weevers, of which there are two 

 species. The operculum in the Weevers is pi-olonged into a remarkable spine, which is used as an 

 offensive weapon. The ventral fins are under the throat, and the anal fin extends the length of 

 the under side of the body. The first dorsal fin, placed behind the head, contains six or seven 

 spines ; and the second dorsal fin is elongated like the anal fin, but does not extend quite as near 

 to the tail. The fish frequently buries itself in the sand, where it may be left covered up between 

 tides. 



The TracJtinus draco, or Greater Weever, is sometimes known as the Sea Cat. It generally 

 measures about a foot to eighteen inches in length. It is sometimes taken with a trawl net, 

 and sometimes on deep sea lines. The fishermen are liable to be wounded by its spines, 

 injuries from which affect the limb as high as the shoulder, so that it becomes necessary to rub 

 the wound with oil and laudanum. In France and Spain the fishermen are required to cut off the 

 spines before the fish, which is excellent eating, is sent to market. It is tenacious of life, and, in 

 common with other fish which frequent the bottom, keeps good for several days after it is taken from 

 the water. Couch mentions having found in their stomachs Gobies, the Sand Launce, a Squid, and 

 various small fishes and shrimps. It extends along the European coast, throughout the Mediter- 

 ranean, and along the African coast to the Cape seas. 



The Lesser Weever (Trachinus vipera) is frequently found on the sandy coast of Lincoln and 

 Norfolk. Its habits are similar to those of the Greater Weever. It spawns in spring, while the 

 Greater Weever spawns in summer. Its usual length is four or five inches ; the colour is yellowish- 

 brown, and the body is relatively deeper than that of the Great Weever. It frequents the 

 western coasts of Europe and the Mediterranean. Other genera of this group, such as Percis and 

 Sillago, are found in Eastern seas ; Eleginus, Episcopus, and Percophis are genera found on the 

 American coasts. Other genera are Arctic and Antarctic. 



The third group, Pinguipedina, includes two genera of which the species are chiefly American. 

 The fourth group, Pseudochromides, comprises half-a-dozen genera which have a similar distribution. 



FAMILY XXVI. MALACANTHID.E. 



The Malacanthidee are a tropical family represented by one genus having very long dorsal and 

 anal tins, and an operculum armed with a spine. 



