116 <GEMMEOUS DRAGONET. 



Callionymus Lyra. C. dorsalis prioris radiis longitudine corporis* 



Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 433. 

 Dracunculus. Gesner. Cottus. Aldrov. Jonst. Will. Artedi. 

 Gemmeous Dragonet Perm. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 145. pi. 27. 



Th I S beautiful fish has obtained its specific title 

 from the peculiar form of its first dorsal fin, the 

 shape of which bears a fancied resemblance to that 

 of an ancient lyre or harp. It is a native of the 

 Mediterranean and Northern seas, and measures, 

 when full grown, about a foot in length. The head 

 is large and of a somewhat depressed form : the 

 mouth wide, and the teeth small and numerous: 

 the eyes are placed near each other on the upper 

 part of the head : the gill-covers are joined to the 

 skin of the body, in such a manner as to leave only 

 two small openings on the top of the neck : the 

 body is of a taper form, smooth, and destitute of 

 visible scales: the pectoral and ventral fins are 

 large, rounded, and of a peculiarly thin and delicate 

 structure : the first dorsal fin is of a triangular 

 outline, the first ray extending far beyond the rest, 

 which are very few in number, rarely exceeding four 

 or five. Like most other fishes the Dragonet varies 

 slightly in colour in different individuals and at 

 different seasons of the year ; but when in full per- 

 fection, generally corresponds with the description 

 given by Mr. Pennant in the British Zoology, viz^ 

 " the pupils of the eyes rich sapphirine blue ; the 

 irides fine fiery carbuncle: the pectoral fins light 

 brown : the side-line strait : the colours of the fish 

 yellow, blue> and white, making a beautiful appear- 



