Class IV. PIPER GURNARD. 375 



the pectoral fin was another spine very large 

 and sharp pointed. The nostrils very minute ; 

 the eyes large; the lower jaw much shorter 

 than the upper; the teeth in both very minute. 

 The first dorsal fin consisted of nine very strong 

 sharp spines, the second of which was the 

 longest; the second fin begins just behind the 

 first, and consisted of eighteen soft rays ; the 

 pectoral fins were long, and had twelve branch- 

 ed rays ; the ventral fins six, very strong and 

 thick ; the anal eighteen, the first spiny ; the 

 tail small, in proportion to the size of the fish, 

 and forked. The back on each side the dorsal 

 fins was armed with a set of strong and very 

 large spines, pointing towards the tail like the 

 teeth of a saw ; the scales were small, but 

 very hard and rough ; the lateral line bent a 

 little at its beginning, then went strait to the 

 tail, and was almost smooth. 



