42 WITH HARD CHEEKS. 



consider liis Trigla lavis as distinct. Pennant, Mr, Dono- 

 van, and Dr. Fleming, following Linnseus, have each describ- 

 ed this species as having a rough lateral line. Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes, in their fourth volume, and Mr. Walcott in 

 his MS. (obligingly lent me by his son,) describe the 

 lateral line as smooth ; and it certainly is so, whatever may be 

 the direction in which the finger is passed over it, and so 

 decidedly different in this respect from the other Gurnards 

 as to have obtained among the fishermen who constantly 

 handle them, the distinguishing name of Smoothside. 



" This species," says Lacepede, " was first described by 

 Salvianus, and is common in the Mediterranean : it is also 

 common round our coast generally, but particularly from 

 West bay to the Land''s End, where the Gurnards are called 

 Tubs, Tubfish, and, in reference to colour. Red Tubs. 

 Like the other species of Gurnards, they are taken by the 

 trawl-net chiefly, but many are also caught on the long lines 

 called bulters, with their baited hooks. The flesh is of good 

 flavour, though rather dry, and requires sauce. In the 

 North of Europe the flesh is salted for keeping. 



D. 9— 16 : P. 11—3 : V. 1 -f 5 : A. 15 : C. 11. 



This species bears some general resemblance to the Red 

 Gurnard in form, but the head is larger and more flattened ; 

 the eyes large, irides yellow, and pupil dark greenish blue ; 

 the prevailing colour of the head and body brownish red ; 

 the pectoral fins large and long, reaching beyond the vent, 

 blue on the inner surface, brownish red without, the fin-rays 

 white ; the spines of the operculum and scapula similar to 

 those of the Red Gurnard, but the supporting rays of the 

 first dorsal fin are not so strong as in that species. The 

 scales are small, oval, and smooth ; those on the lateral line 

 slightly elevated, but perfectly smooth, and the line bifurcates 

 at the tail. The air-bladder, as shown by the outline, has 



