o 



3 



The Streaked Gurnard was called by the older Naturalists 

 Mullus Itnberbis ; and no small reproach has been poured 

 upon them on account of a name that is supposed to bear 

 very little reference to the nature of the fish refered to. But 

 those laborious, and usually accurate observers may be more 

 easily excused than a Naturalist of the closet might suppose. 

 The Streaked Gurnard and Surmullet frequent the same 

 haunts — feed on the same food — are taken in the same almost 

 peculiar sort of Net, during the same limited season of the 

 year ; and when first drawn from the Sea the distinction 

 between them is not very obvious, the longitudinal yellow 

 lines of the Surmullet being concealed in the general bright 

 and glowing colours, that fade as the creature dies ; and the 

 barbs at the mouth lie concealed in a depression fitted to 

 receive them : — we need not wonder therefore, taking also 

 into consideration their general similarity of form, that one of 

 these fishes was termed the Bearded, and the other the 

 Unbearded Mullet. The Streaked Gurnard approaches to 

 the nature of a foreign Species (T. Volitans) in its habit of 

 making considerable springs out of the water. The generality 

 of these Fishes spawn in Winter or early in the Spring; but I 

 have known this function delayed until near Midsummer, and 

 believe that sometimes they breed at both seasons, though not 

 perhaps the same individual Fishes. 



BULLHEAD. Cottus Gobio. Jenyns, p. 343. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 1, p. 56. Miller's Thumb. In brooks, com- 

 mon. 



SEA SCORPION. C. Scorpius. Jenyns, p. 344. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 1, p. 60. Stingfish. Common, chiefly in har- 

 bours. 



STINGFISH. C. Bubalis. Jenyns, p. 345. Yarrell's Br. 

 F., vol. 1, p. 63. Common, but not usually distinguished 

 from the last Species. It goes, however, into deeper water, 

 and is more apt to vary in colour, being sometimes found of 

 a bright scarlet. 



POGGE. Aspidophorus Cataphractus. Jenyns, p. 346. 

 Yarreli's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 70. Black Stingfish. Not un- 

 common. 



STICKLEBACKS. 



THREE SPINED STICKLEBACK. Gasterosteus Acu- 

 leatus. Jenyns, p. 348. Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 76. 

 Not uncommon, though not in abundance. It ascends our 

 rivers in May. 



HALF ARMED STICKLEBACK. G. Semiarmatus. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 80. 



SMOOTH TAILED STICKLEBACK. G. Leiourus. 

 Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 81. 



