APPENDIX. 



425 



line, which in Cuculus " is not armed" with spines,"is in this indicated by a 

 row; of distinct prickles, small and simple. Minor points of variation occur 

 in the structure. In this, for instance, there are seventeen rays in the anal 

 fin instead of sixteen, and I find no notice taken in my original description 

 of the lateral line being furcated at the caudal end. The peculiar cha- 

 racters of the shortness of the ventral, and the spines on the lateral line, 

 are quite apparent in Bloch's figure, which is thus proved to belong to our 

 present species. The muzzle or snout is lunated, with six small unequal 

 spines, directed forwards on each of the two angles. Mr. Yarrell mentions 

 only one small spine on the operculum of his Cuculus, whereas this has 

 two, one above the other below, besides the very strong one on the sca- 

 pular region, just above the pectoral fin : the occipital spines are short, 

 with serrated ridges ; caudal slightly lunated, the angles sharp. 



Colours, taken from the fresh specimens. — Body rich vermilion red, and 

 the sides silvery yellow, the belly white, tins red, but the ventral fin is pmk 

 and the anal white ; pectoral fin dark brown or blackish, inclining to red in 

 the lower parts ; the rays white, the colour inside, or next the body, is the 

 same, but darker ; all the rest of the fins are red,irides red, the pupil saphire, 

 the colour of the pectoral fin in the Cuculus of France and Britain so very 

 important in this group, is neither noticed by Cuvier or Yarrell. The 

 first anal ray is immediately beneath the second ray of the hinder dorsal, 

 and in my drawing all the rays of these two fins are represented as simple, 

 a peculiarity which is also expressed in Bloch's figure. The Cuculus oi 

 Cuvier, however, is stated to have all the rays of the second dorsal, except 

 the two first, branched ; the anal rays, except the first, are also branched.* 

 Obs. — M. Cuvier seems to think that there is some variation between 

 the sexes of certain TrigUs in the lateral line, for he observes of his Trigla 

 lineata, that the lateral spines are stronger, and more deeply dentated in 

 the males than in the females.f On the other hand, it does not appear that 

 these fishes alter their appearance when growing, for Mr. Yarrell remarks 

 of his Cuculus, or red gurnard, that he has found the characters well marked 



in young individuals only an 

 inch and a half long ; andthis 

 fact, of all their distinguish- 

 "T/'TH/'W/f !^yf^5^C=;^^^_ii: 4^'P^^^k ^"S characters being deve- 



!il^Mfc^i0f|^^6°^^yy/^im loped at that early age, is fully 



l^Wi^fW¥)(}^^^m,'^}li \ mllim. confi rmed by my own observ- 



5^d:VV,',(,(/ifi^fe^M'F/:i>-^.^f*^k ations on the Mediterranean 



species.J There seems nogood 

 reason, therefore, to suppose 

 that the Cuculus of these au- 

 thors, and the Pini of Bloch, 

 are merely sexes of the same ; 

 the difference, indeed, in 

 their other characters makes 

 this supposition still more im - 

 probable. The annexed cut 

 Xfig. 135.) of the head of the 

 true Pini, showing the spines, 

 may be compared with the Cuculus of the British coast. § 



neither accords with our T. Pini, nor the Cuculus of Mr. Yarrell and Dr. 

 Parnell. 



* Hist, des Poiss., iv. 430. + Hist, des Poiss. iv. 35. 



t It has been stated recently, that the lateral line varies from rough to 

 smooth, and thepectoral fin is either shorter or longer in individuals of the 

 same species, but of diflTerent ages. But until these alleged facts are veri- 

 fied by repeated observations, I may be excused for doubting their accuracy. 



§ Since the above was written, I have had the pleasure of receiving from 

 Dr. Parnell his admirable " Essay on the Fishes of the Forth j " a more 

 valuable and important work in this branch of zoology has never appeared 

 in this or any other country. Dr. ParneU's Cuculus differs.from the Pini 



