ENGLISH FISHES. 



455 



mation are extremely puzzled to define them. 

 This confusion is encreased by another species be- 

 ing blended with them, that hitherto does not ap- 

 pear to have been described, though by no means 

 rare. It has probably been mistaken for the 

 Sapphirine Gurnard, Trigla hirundo, from the 

 great length and breadth of the pectoral fins, but 

 is at once discriminated from any other species, 

 by the smoothness of its skin ; from which cir- 

 cumstance, it may with great propriety be called 

 Smooth Gurnard, or 



Trigla Iccvis. 



Head and body as far as the vent, large : body 

 entirely smooth : pectoral fins very long and broad, 

 reaching beyond the vent : spine on the oper- 

 culum of the gills, very short. 



Front slightly bifid, a little roughened with 

 denticles : on the side of the head, three spines as 

 usual ; that on the operculum of the gills, re- 

 markably short and blunt, scarcely projecting be- 

 yond the margin: lateral line straight and ele- 

 vated, but quite as smooth to the- touch as the rest 

 of the body : on the upper anterior angle of the 

 eye-brow, are two obtuse denticles : the back 

 slightly serrated on each side the dorsal fins : 

 teeth minute, numerous : first dorsal fin has the 



Gg2 



