cottim:. 57 



Trigla pceciloptera, Thompson, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 61 (not Cuv. and Val.) 



Streaked gurnard, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, ii, p. 25, pi. lxvii. 



B. vii, D. 9-11 | 16-17, P. 10-11 + iii, V. 1/5, A. 16, C. 12, L. 1. 66, Coec. pyl. 10, 



Vert. 15/20. 



Length of head 4f to 4f , of caudal fin 5 to 6, height of body 5 to h\ in the 

 total length. Eye— high up, almost touching dorsal profile, If to If diameters in 

 the postorbital portion of the head, 2 diameters from the end of the snout, and 

 3/4 to 1 diameter apart. Interorbital space deeply concave : upper profile from 

 eye to snout descends abruptly, in the adult almost vertically. Bones of the 

 head with stellated ridges. Two or three distinct spines at the anterior-superior 

 angle of the orbit, being the termination of ridges. Preorbital obtuse anteriorly, 

 and granulated, most coarsely so in adults, when it may even be denticulated. 

 Angle of preopercle usually with blunt, but sometimes with, sharp projections : 

 supra-scapular roughened along its upper edge and terminating posteriorly in a 

 sharp spine : scapular strongly ridged, likewise terminating in a strong spine. 

 The posterior extremity of the maxilla does not extend to beneath the anterior 

 edge of the eye. Teeth — fine in jaws, present or absent on vomer : palatines and 

 tongue edentulous. Fins— second dorsal spine the longest, being equal to the 

 distance between the hind edge of the eye and the end of the snout, its first and 

 sometimes also its second (or even third) spine roughened anteriorly : rays of 

 second dorsal divided at their outer extremities. Pectoral longer than the head, 

 and reaching to above the 3rd to the 7th ray of the anal fin. Anal rays undivided. 

 Ventral reaches the vent. Caudal emarginate. Scales — small. Lateral-line — 

 -with about 66 denticulated and serrated spines, equal to half the number of 

 rows of scales above the lateral-line : the keeled row along the bases of the dorsal 

 fins well developed, and consisting of about 25 scales. Running from the 

 back down the sides are numerous raised lines or ridges which give it its 

 characteristic appearance. Gcecal appendages — ten, those nearest the pylorus long 

 and nearly twice the length of the outermost. Air-bladder — oval, rounded at both 

 extremities with a large muscle, composed of transverse fibres going along its 

 lateral borders. Colours — of a lake superiorly and on the sides, becoming white 

 underneath. Narrow red vertical bands pass from the back down the sides. 

 Dorsal and caudal fins reddish-brown, edged externally with red, and covered with 

 numerous irregular spots and blotches. Pectoral of similar but darker colours, 

 the spots almost forming transverse bands. Ventrals reddish-brown internally, 

 with lighter red edges. Anal grayish-yellow, with a pink outer margin which 

 has a dark base. 



Navies. — Streaked gurnard: lineated gurnard : French gurnard : rock gurnard: 

 rabbit fish. Penhaiam rhestrog, Welsh. Le Rouget Camard, French. 



Habits. — Although this fish usually keeps near the bottom, it is sometimes 

 captured in nets which do not descend nearly so low, while it has been occasionally 

 observed springing out of the sea. It appears to restrict itself to certain localities 

 probably due to the food which may be present. Its migrations are effected, 

 according to Couch, at higher elevations than among the other forms of the genus : 

 he obtained one from a net that floated over 30 fathoms. Once at Polperro, not 

 its usual resort, a fish was observed springing out of the water in an unusual 

 manner, and on being captured proved to be a streaked gurnard. It eats 

 Crustacea and small fish, while pebbles and vegetable substances have been found 

 in its stomach. Thompson detected in one what had " the appearance of 

 vegetable food and a young sole about 3 inches in length, crab-like Crustacea, 

 15 full-grown specimens of shrimp-like Crustacea and 3 small brachyurous 

 crustacea" as well as other crabs. 



Means of capture. — Is generally taken in trammels set for surmullets, or with 

 the trawl, and but rarely (Mr. Cornish, 1. c. says never) by means of baits. In 

 the aquarium it takes pieces of mussel or shrimps, as well as any other of the 

 genus, and becomes equally tame, therefore one wotild imagine that it must 

 sometimes be caught by baits. 



Breeding. — Eggs small and numerous. 



