SAPPHIRINE GURNARD. 
73 
belly, grey, of various shades, very faintly tinged with pale red, and 
varied with a few small roundish black spots ; lower portion of sides 
bright rose red ; under parts white, intermixed with red towards the tail. 
D., P., and C. fins marbled with red and very dark grey ; V. white at base, 
but gradually changing to red, the extremity having a rich tinge of this 
colour. Anal fin all red, 3 free — P. coral red, for an inch from tip. P. 
fins pass the anal one inch. 
Yarrell (Brit. Fish., p. 46) notices this species as being found “ on our 
southern, and occasionally on our eastern, coasts.” In addition to the 
above Irish localities, it may be stated that, in October, 1844, I saw in a 
fishmonger’s shop, in Glasgow, a T. lineata, which had been taken at 
Ayr. Jenyns (p. 340) says : — 44 Found as far North as Scotland.” Par- 
nell (p. 15) remarks that it has not been met with in Scotland. 
The Sapphirine Gurnard, Trigla Hirundo, Bloch, 
Is procured around the coast. 
This gurnard is brought to Belfast market chiefly in the Spring and 
Autumn. It is said to be in best condition during the months of May 
and June, and to spawn in November. It is most usually called the Red 
Gurnard, in common with the two species already treated of; but, when 
of a greyish colour, it is named the Grey Gurnard, and is the only fish 
known by that designation in Belfast market, where the T. Gurnardus is 
always called the Knoud. 
At Youghal, the Sapphirine Gurnards are, according to my friend, Dr. 
Ball, distinguished by the name of “Tubs,” which, Mr. Yarrell says, is 
applied to the gurnards in the South of England. — Brit. Fish., p. 48. 
(2nd Ed.) 
In October, 1848, I received a Sordid Dragon et ( Callionymus Fracun - 
cuius) which was taken out of the stomach of a Sapphirine Gurnard. 
The most usual mode of capture of the latter fish is in trawl-nets upon 
sandy bottoms, where flat-fish are usually taken. I have not, however, 
seen more than a dozen brought to Belfast market in a morning, although 
it ranks second in numbers among the gurnards on the north-east coast, 
and is the common gurnard of this market. The usual price is from Is. to 
Is. 6d. ; 2s. 6 d. being given for very large ones. No distinction is made in 
this respect between the three Red Gurnards. 
This species not uncommonly attains to two feet in length here, and has 
been taken of 14 lbs. weight. 
Although I was correct in noticing this fish as an addition to the Irish 
Fauna in the Zool. Proc. for 1835 (p. 79), the subsequent publication of 
Mr. Templeton’s catalogue showed that it had been known to him. I 
have seen this species in Autumn taken in salmon-nets in Ballantrae, 
Ayrshire ; and have observed others on a different part of the coast of this 
County. 
A specimen in the Belfast Museum is 21 inches in length ; D. 9, 16 ; P. 
10 or 11 ; Y. 1-5; A. 15; C. 16 well-developed rays. Pectoral fin, 5^ 
inches from base to extremity ; 5 inches in diameter, when expanded ; 3 
appendages between Y. and P. fins ; lateral line not prickly, as described 
by Donovan. The species is well figured by this author (Brit. Fish., pi. 1) ; 
but, in the present specimen, the spines on snout are not so regular as in 
his figure. 
In April, 1835, I examined the contents of a fishing-boat at Howth, and 
found that it contained, amongst a variety of other fishes, three kinds of 
