J 78 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



Forth it is very rare, the only instance I am aware of its 

 capture in the estuary was during the month of August, near 

 Queensferry, where it was found in a pool of water left by 

 the receding of the tide ; occasionally it is taken beyond the 

 Isle of May and brought to the Edinburgh Market. The 

 ova in the month of January appear to be in a fit state to be 

 deposited. Its food is crustaceous animals and small fishes ; 

 its flesh is firm and wholesome, and is considered by some 

 to be superior tothe last species, but in general more dry. 

 In the north of Europe it is salted for keeping ; it is out of 

 season in December, January, and February. 



Trigla GUitNAiiDcs.* — The Gkey Guknard. 



Specific Characters. — Pectoral and ventral fins of equal length ; not 

 reaching to the first ray of the anal fin ; lateral line crenated. (See 

 Plate 22.) 



Description. — From a specimen a foot in length. Body elongated 

 and rounded, tapering from the nape to the base of the tail ; back 

 straight ; head somewhat of a square form, falling obliquely from the 

 forehead to the end of the snout. Colour of the head, back, and sides, 

 as far as a little below the lateral line, brownish-grey, marked with 

 irregular white spots and a few black ones ; dorsal, caudal, and pec- 

 toral fins, dusky ; abdomen, lateral line, ventral and anal fins, pure 

 white. In young specimens, the head, back, and sides, are red, 

 with a black spot on the first dorsal fin ; scales small, ciliated at their 

 free margins (Mr Yarrell says the scales are smooth) ; head and cheeks 

 rough, with granulations disposed in lines radiating from different 

 centres ; eyes large, placed high on the head; two spines in front of 

 each orbit ; operculum on the upper and posterior edge ending in two 

 spines, the lower one much the longest ; scapular spine ending in a 

 sharp point directing back over the base of the pectoral fin ; lateral 

 line straight, bifurcating at the caudal extremity, and extending 

 down the caudal fin, composed, as far as the base of that fin, of a 

 number of elevated scales (in young specimens these scales and 



" Trigla gurnardm, Cuv., Yar., Penn., Jen., Flem., Lin., Bloch, Don-. 

 Grey Gurnard, Crooner in Scotland. 



