FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 465 



rare species, and in the course of 20 years he has met only 6 or 8 individuals. The 

 last one he examined had its stomach completely distended with the remains of crabs. 



This fish is also called Robin, Flying Fish, Butterfly Fish, Wingfish, Grunter, 

 and Cuckoo Fish. It is very common on our coast, its range extending from Maine 

 to South Carolina. It grows to the length of 12 inches or more and is an excellent 

 food fish, although seldom found in the market. 



Besides crabs, the Sea Robin consumes shrimp, and smaller crustaceans. Its 

 eggs are bright orange and are matured during the summer months. This fish is 

 taken in numbers in pound nets in the spring and summer. It appears in Gravesend 

 Bay in May. It was found rather abundant in Great South Bay in 1898. The 

 young were very scarce in that bay during the summer of 1901, although some 

 years they are very plentiful. 



Ayres gives a most interesting account of the habit which the fish has of burying 

 itself in sand for concealment. 



212. Red-winged Sea Robin {Prionotus strigatus C. & V.). 



The Red-winged Sea Robin is found from Cape Cod to Virginia; it is very com- 

 mon in shallow water. This is also known as the Striped Sea Robin, or Striped 

 Gurnard. It is a large species, reaching 12 inches or more in length. 



Mitchill described and figured it under the erroneous name of Trigla lineata. 

 DeKay also gives a description and figure under the name of the Banded Gurnard. 

 He says it grows to the length of 18 inches; it is not uncommon, and is variously 

 styled Grunter, Gurnard, Sea Robin and Flying Fish. Ayres states that, in Old 

 Man's Harbor, it was much more abundant than the common Sea Robin, and 

 arrived later. The first one taken in 1841 was caught August 13. It was sometimes 

 used as food, but not esteemed. 



The young of this fish was very abundant in August and September at Blue 

 Point Cove, Howell's Point, Nichols's Point, Clam Pond Cove, Fire Island Inlet and 

 Oak Island Beach. 



213. Big-headed Sea Robin {Prionotus tribulus C. & V.). 



The Big-headed Sea Robin is called the Spinous Gurnard by DeKay, who copies 

 his description and figure from the work of Cuvier and Valenciennes. Cuvier 

 states that he received numerous specimens of this fish from New York. DeKay 

 never saw any but very small individuals which he had confounded with the Striped 

 Sea Robin. 



The species ranges from New York to Florida. It is distinguished chiefly by its 

 large head, which has numerous acute spines, flattened like sword blades. 

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