GURNARDS. 187 



most pectoral fin-rays are modified as delicate " feelers " which the 

 animal uses as it moves about close on the sea-bottom in search of 

 the small crustaceans that constitute its food. The pelvic fins are 

 widely separated. The Gurnards are marine and are widely 

 distributed in warm and temperate seas. The species found in 

 British waters include the Grey Gurnard, Trigla gurnardus, 848 ; 

 the Red Gurnard, Trigla pini, 845 ; the Cuckoo Gurnard, Trigla 

 cuculus, 847, and the large Tub-fish or Sapphirine Gurnard, 

 Trigla hirundo, 843. The Cape Gurnard, Trigla capensis, 849, 

 does not differ materially from our Red Gurnard. Two species of 

 the Armed Gurnard, Peristedion (841 and 842), and a specimen 

 of the Australian Lepidotrigla (850) are also shown. 



In the Flying Gurnards or Dactylopteridae, fig. 88, the head is 

 completely cuirassed, and the body is covered with hard, rough 

 scales. The pelvic fins are set close together ; the pectoral fins 

 are divided into two portions, the second of which is very large in 

 the adult. The Flying Gurnards inhabit tropical and warm seas, 

 and are able to move through the air like the Flying Fish 

 {Eococcetus, 452, Wall-case 11 ), though for shorter distances. 

 The fish emerges from the water with considerable impetus, and 

 the rapid agitation of the large pectoral fins enables it to traverse 

 a distance of several feet before falling back into the water. The 

 best known Flying Gurnard is the Dactylopterus volitans (851 

 and 852, skeleton), of the Mediterranean Sea and the temperate 

 and tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean. A specimen of an 

 oriental species is also shown (853). 



Blenniiformes (Blennies). 



The division Blenniiformes or Jugulares includes a number of 

 families of Acanthopterygian fishes in which the pelvic fins are set 

 forward under the throat. There is no bony stay to the pre- 

 operculum ; the gill-opening is in front of the pectoral fin, the 

 base of which is vertically disposed or nearly so. The division 

 includes such fishes as the Weevcrs, Star-gazers, Dragonets, 

 Blennies, Wolf-fishes and Toad-fishes. 



