THE CUCKOO GURNARD. 



255 



This seems to be the most valuable of the nine species that inhabit the British seas, 

 being, like all the others, excellent for the table, and exceeding them considerably in 

 size. The name of Hirundo, or swallow, has been given to this fish on account of the 

 great size of the pectoral fins, which are almost as proportionately large to the dimen- 

 sions of the fish as the wings of the swallow to the bird. Putting aside the great 

 development of these members, and their rich blue color, the Sapphirine Gurnard may 

 be distinguished from the other species by the extreme smoothness of the lateral line, 

 which may be rubbed with the finger in either direction without exhibiting the spiny 

 roughness which is found in other Gurnards. In consequence of this structure, the 

 fishermen sometimes call the fish the Smoothside Gurnard. 



SAPPHIRINE GURNARD.-7W,g;/ hlruado. 



L\R\E.'Agoaus cataphractus. 



All the scales of this species are very small. The head is armed with spines, some 

 springing from just before the eye, and others from the operculum and the shoulder. 

 Its head is very large and flattened, and carried ia a rather peculiar style, best under- 

 stood from seeing a specimen or examining the illustration. The general color of the 

 body and head is reddish brown, the pectoral fins are very long and wide, and their 

 color is deep blue on the inside and brownish red on the exterior. The rays are 

 white. When full grown it sometimes attains the length of two feet. 



Several other species of Gurnard inhabit the English seas, among which may be 

 mentioned the CUCKOO GURNARD (Trigla pini) sometimes called the RED GURNARD from 

 the color of its body. This is a very common species, and when young may be found in 

 the rock pools at low water, measuring only a few inches in length, but perfectly exhibiting 

 the characters of its genus. The specific title of " pini," or belonging to the pine-tree, 

 is given to the Cuckoo Gurnard on account of the peculiar aspect of the lateral line, 



