. SOME NEW SPECIES OF SCOTTISH FISHES. , 141 



In the Frith of Forth this fish is frequently met with, from five to six inches 

 in length, in the month of July. I may add that I can see no difference between 

 this fish and the young of the grey gurnard ( T. gurnardus) of equal size. The grey 

 gurnard, when less than six inches in length, is always marked with a black spot on 

 the first dorsal fin, and the lateral line and dorsal ridge are strongly serrated ; but 

 as the fish increases in size, so the black dorsal spot and serratures become oblite- 

 rated, and at length crenated, as in the grey gurnard a foot in length. In Mr 

 Yarrell's work on the British Fishes, the first spine of the first dorsal fin of T. 

 Blochii, is represented as being longer than the second spine, which it ought not 

 to be, as the first dorsal spine in the whole of the gurnards is much the shorter 

 of the two. 



CoTTus BUBALis, Yavrell, vol. i. — Sea bull-head. 



Specific Character. — Prseoperculum with four spines. 



To Mr Yarrell we owe the first discovery of this fish as British. From 

 the great similarity which exists between it and the C. scorpius, there is no doubt 

 but that they have often been taken for the same species, as they both in- 

 habit the same places, and are found equally common. The difference which 

 exists between these two fish is evident when placed side by side. In the bubalis 

 the first gill-cover has four spines, and the lateral line is rough ; whereas in the 

 scorpius, the same gill-cover has but three short spines, and the lateral line is 

 smooth. They are both common in the Solway Frith, as well as in the Frith of 

 Forth. Their fiesh is coarse and disagreeable to the taste. 



Gasterosteus trachurus, Yarrell, vol. i. — Full-armed Stickleback. 



Specific Character. — Plates extending the whole length of the sides. 

 Not common on the east coast of Scotland ; more frequently met with on the 

 west coast. 



Gasterosteus semiarmatus, Yarrell, vol. i. — Half-armed Stickleback. 



Specific Character. — Plates extending as far as the vent. 

 Not so frequently met with as the last species ; found to inhabit fresh as well 

 as salt water pools. 



Pagellus erythrinus, Cuvier. — Spanish Bream. 



Specific Character. — Origin of the lateral line and base of the pectorals with« 

 out a black spot. 



The Spanish bream is one of the rarest of our British fishes. It has been no- 

 ticed, though not often, on the coast of Corawall, and has been taken once in the 

 Frith of Forth. The flesh is of superior quality for the table. It much resembles 



