78 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



all the points directed upwards ; scales throughout lateral line crenated, 

 many of them on the hinder |rds of its length terminating in a spine ; 1st 

 3 D. rays granulated throughout almost their entire length ; 4th and 5th 

 rays partially granulated. 



No. 9 = 13i inches long. Female, colour dark-grey, varied with yellow ; 

 D. fin generally blackish, but of a darker hue where the black spot usually 

 occurs. Scales on D. ridge crenated throughout ; points directed upwards ; 

 D. scales as in No. 8 ; 1st and '2nd D. rays granulated nearly throughout 

 their length, ord and 4th slightly so about the middle. 



No. 10 ^14 inches long. Female, colour grey, varied with yellow ; 1st 

 D. fin with a black spot. Scales on 1). ridge and lateral line as in last ; 

 four anterior rays of 1st D. fin conspicuously granulated, 5th partially so 

 about the middle. 



No. 11=15 inches long. Female, colour dark-grey, varied by yellow ; 

 1st D. fin generally pale dusky.* Scales on D. ridge and lateral line as 

 in last; 3 anterior rays of 1st I), fin strongly granulated throughout 

 almost their entire length, 4th and 5th granulated for more than half their 

 length, 6th granulated on one side. No. 6, 11 inches long, was con- 

 siderably darker in colour than the three last. 



Thus the T. Cuculus may be traced gradually passing into the T. Gur- 

 nardus, until this species appears fully developed. It may further be per- 

 ceived, that as this fish increases in size the granulations extend over the 

 rays of the first dorsal fin, and are not confined, as described by authors, 

 to the three or four anterior ones only. So far as my observation extends, 

 the red colour assigned to the T. Cucnhis is not peculiar to the species at 

 any age ; and individuals of this hue may be looked upon as occasional 

 varieties : — from 2i up to 12^1 inches in length, I have seen specimens of 

 a reddish colour. Considered relatively to the length of body, the pectoral 

 fins are larger in young than in adult individuals ; in those of considerable 

 size they often extend so far as to be on a line Avith the vent. 



Sketches of the form of the scales of the dorsal ridge and lateral line of 

 these gurnards, in their various stages, accompanied the foregoing com- 

 munication, but were accidentally overlooked by the Editor, who, however, 

 inserted them in the 3rd volume of the Annals, p. 45. 



For the believers in T. Cuculus as a distinct species, it may be stated 

 that it has been taken on the north-east coast ; also at Dublin and 

 Youghal (Dr. Ball) ; and Mr. M'Calla, in October, 1840, stated that he had 

 found at lloundstone three specimens in the stomach of a hake, but had 

 not seen it taken there with a bait : the black spot on D. fin was present 

 in the three. 



Mr. W. Andrews, of Dublin, by letter, dated 26th March, 1850, in- 

 formed me as follows :— 



" I have recently received numerous specimens of the young of Trujla 

 Gurnardus. Many of these are identical Avith Yarrell's figure of T. Blochii, 

 in every respect, save in the spine of the first dorsal ray not being the 

 longest. This I suspect to be an error, for I do not think that any of the 

 gurnards possess that peculiarity. I have dissected a great many young 

 specimens lately received, and find that they are of that stage of growth 



* The recent colours of all but Nos. 1 — 3 are hei'e given. 



t This specimen may be described as tinged with red over the ordinary firey 

 colour which appears on the back and upper part of the sides in T. Gurnardus ; 

 on the lower part of the sides, and to near the ventral profile, it was of a deep 

 rose colour ; all the fins too had reddish markings. 



