622 THE OCEAN WORLD. 
in shape, with short muzzles; they have a habit of burying themselves 
in the sand, and are formidable to fishermen, from the dangerous 
wounds they inflict with their spines. Z+achinus communis (Fig. 394) 
is widely diffused in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Another 
genus, Uranoscopus, is so named from the position of the eyes, which 
are directed towards the sky, from odpards, the heavens, and cxoréw, I 
regard. From this peculiar arrangement, they can only see above 
them. Uvanoscopus vulgaris (Fig. 395) belongs to the Mediterranean 
Fig. 393.-—The Pipe-fish (Fistularia tabacaria.) 
and is remarkable for its thick cubical head and erect spiny dorsal 
fins. 
A third family is that of the Mullets (AZudiide). They have the 
body thick and oblong, the profile of the head approaching the ver- 
tical line ; scales large, two dorsal fins, widely separated, the rays of 
the first spinous, of the second, flexible ; two cirri at the lower jaw. 
Several species are known, two are inhabitants of our west and 
south-west coasts: the Striped or Red Mullet (A/udlus surmulletus), 
not rare as British, and the Red Mullet (JZ. barbatus). The first is a 
fine bright vermilion red, with three dominating yellow lines; the 
throat, breast, ventral, and lower surface of the tail are white, slightly 
tinged with rose ; the fins have their rays more or less red, the iris of 
