BLOCK'S GURNARD. 181 



Trigla Blochti.* — Bloch's Gurnard. 



Specific Characters. — First dorsal fin with a black spot ; dorsal ridge 

 strongly serrated. (See PL 23.) 



Description. — From a specimen five inches in length. Body elonga- 

 ted, tapering from the posterior part of the head to the tail ; head 

 somewhat of a square form, falling obliquely from the forehead to the 

 tip of the nose ; back straight. Colour of the head, back, sides, dor- 

 sal, and caudal fins, rose red ; abdomen, lateral line, ventral and anal 

 fins, dull white ; first dorsal fin with a large black spot placed on the 

 upper part of the membrane between the third, fourth, and fifth rays ; 

 pectorals dusky grey. Eyes large, placed high on the head ; two 

 spines in front of each orbit, directing backward. Head and cheeks 

 hard and rough, with granulations disposed in lines radiating from 

 different centres ; operculum ending in two sharp spines, the upper 

 not projecting beyond the membrane ; the lower one extending half 

 way over the scapular spine ; scapular spine rather long, ending in a 

 sharp point directing backwards over the base of the pectorals. La- 

 teral line straight, slightly turned at its origin, much raised and bi- 

 furcated at the caudal extremity ; each scale composing it has two 

 teeth of unequal length, the lower one pointing towards the tail, 

 the other directing slightly upwards ; the finger can be passed with 

 ease down the scales, but not in the contrary direction. Dorsal ridge 

 strongly serrated, each scale or plate ending in a sharp point direct- 

 ing backward. Teeth small and fine in each jaw, and on front of 

 the vomer. First dorsal fin commencing a little behind the base of 

 the pectorals ; first ray shorter than the second, t second and third rays 

 the longest ; the remainder gradually decreasing ; second dorsal com- 

 mencing at a short distance from the termination of the first, and end- 

 ing nearly in a line over the base of the last anal ray ; first rays longer 

 than the rest. Anal fin corresponding with the second dorsal; pec- 

 torals reaching to the vent and longer than the ventrals ; three de- 

 tached rays under the base of the pectorals, the first shorter than the 

 succeeding ones ; tail lunated. Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 8 ; 2d D. 20 ; V. 6; A. 18 ; P. 9 ; C. 11 ; Branchiostegous rays 7. 



This fish, according to the statements of authors, is found 

 in the Channel of Boulogne, and is very abundant in the 

 Mediterranean. It is equally common with the grey gur- 



* Trigla Blochii, Yarr. T. cuculus, Cuv., Penn., Jen., Bloch, Montagu . 

 + Mr Yarrell has represented the first ray as being longer than the second. 



7/ 



