THE. GURNARD FAMILY 329 



seems probable that the fish communicate with one another by 

 these sounds. The sounds arc not usuall)^ heard by an observer 

 when the fish is in the water, because they do not pass readily, 

 if at all, from the water to the air, but if the fish is taken out of 

 the water they are heard distinctly enough. 



The piper is the largest of the species, the tub next, the grey 

 gurnard next, and the red the smallest. The piper reaches a 

 length of 2 feet, and the tub grows nearly as large. The grey 

 gurnard is seldom seen as long as 18 inches, and the red gurnard 

 is usually smaller. In colour all the gurnards except the grey 

 are red or brownish-red on the back and white on the sides : the 

 sides and belly are not brilliant or silver}'. The hinder surface of 

 the breast-fin in the sapphirine gurnard, or tub, is blue at the 

 margins and reddish within the margin, while the central part is 

 blue with black blotches. 



Habitat. — Gurnards are found in tropical and temperate seas, 

 not extending to the arctic regions. Of the species here con- 

 sidered the grey gurnard is the most northern, extending from 

 the Mediterranean to Norway and the Baltic. It is found all 

 over the North Sea as well as on all the coasts of Britain and 

 Ireland. The red gurnard also extends from the Mediterranean 

 to Norway, but is much less abundant in the North Sea and on 

 the east coast of Scotland than the grey ; in fact, it is scarce in 

 the North Sea. 



The tub has a range very similiar to that of the red gurnard : 

 it is found on the coast of Norway, and in small numbers on the 

 east coast of Scotland, but is rare in the North Sea except in the 

 southern narrower part and in the Heligoland Bight ; it is fairly 

 plentiful on the south coast of England, south and west coasts of 

 Ireland. The piper is still more confined to southern regions, 

 not being taken on the east coasts of England or Scotland, or in 

 Norway. The long-finned gurnard and the streaked gurnard 

 have been taken chiefly on the south coast of England. The 

 greatest depth at which the grey gurnard was taken in the Irish 

 Survey was 80 fathoms, but the piper was taken at 144 fathoms, 

 and the red gurnard has been taken at 165 fathoms. 



Food. — In the Irish Survey specimens of all four species were 

 captured and examined. The food in all was varied, Crustacea 

 being in greatest proportion. Of the Crustacea the chief forms 

 were crabs, especially swimming crabs, and shrimps. Eishes 



