GURNARDS. 
77 
as distinct species, may in the first place be desirable. * Leur tete est la 
meme, ses granulations sont semblables, les dentelures des lobes de leur 
museau sont tout aussi distinctes, et les points de leurs pieces operculaires et 
de leur epaule tout aussi aigues ; mais les trois premieres epines de leur dor- 
sale n’ont pas, comme dans le gurnard gris, les cotes granules ou chagrines : 
on ne voit qu’une dentelure a peine perceptible sur le tranchant anterieur 
des deux premieres. Les cretes des ecailles qui garnissent leur fossette 
dorsale sont entieres et sans crenelures, et se terminent chacune par une 
simple pointe. Celles des ecailles de leur ligne laterale ne sont pas non 
plus crenelees comme dans les gurnards gris, mais ont deux a trois dents 
de scie, dont une est plus saillante et plus aigue que les autres. Tout le 
reste est parfaitement conforme de meme dans les deux especes.’ — Article 
T. Cuculus, tome iv. p. 68. 
T. Cuculus. 
No. 1 = 2\ inches long. Colour red, “ with a conspicuous black spot 
on the upper part of the first dorsal,” extending from the 3rd to the 5th 
ray. A few denticles on the 1st D. ray only ; all the scales on the D. 
ridge entire, each being a sharp spine directed backwards ; scales of the 
lateral line not crenated, but consisting of a series of hooked spines simi- 
larly directed. 
Nos. 2 and 3 * = 3 and 3£ inches long. Colour red ; a conspicuous 
black spot from 3rd to 5th ray of first 1). fin. Scales of D. ridge and 
lateral line as in No. 1 ; no denticles on D. rays in No. 2 ; the rays in No. 
3 imperfect. 
Intermediate between T. Cuculus and T. Gurnardus. 
No. 4=7 inches long. Colour dark grey ; black spot of first D. fin 
very conspicuous. Two anterior scales of D. ridge slightly denticulated ; 
the remainder simple ; scales occupying the anterior part of lateral line, for 
about an inch in extent, crenated; remainder as in Nos. 1 — 3; first D. 
ray denticulated, and to a greater extent than in No. 1. 
No. 5 = 9 inches long. Male, colour greyish-red ; a conspicuous 
black spot on first D. fin. The few anterior scales only of the D. ridge 
slightly denticulated ; anterior portion of every scale on the lateral line 
crenated, but each terminating in a hooked spine. 1st and 2nd D. rays 
denticulated, points on the 1st increasing in number.f 
T. Gurnardus. 
No. 6 =11 inches long. Female, colour blackish-grey; a black spot 
on D. fin. Scales on D. ridge all crenated, points directed upwards ; those 
on the lateral line all crenated, occasional scales throughout its length 
terminating in a hooked spine. 3 anterior D. rays crenated. 
No. 7 = 11^ inches long. Male, colour greyish-red; black spot on 1st 
D. fin. Scales throughout D. ridge crenated, but nearly all of them having 
the terminal hooked spine ; scales on lateral line all crenated, but, as in the 
D. scales, all except those occupying the anterior inch terminated by a 
spine ; 1st and 2nd anterior rays only of 1st D. granulated. 
No. 8 = 13^ inches long. Colour blackish-grey, with a slight tinge of 
pale-red over it ; 1st D. fin generally dusky. Scales of D. ridge crenated, 
* The specimens described as T. Cuculus in the Annals, vol. i. 348. 
t Since this was procured, Dr. Parnell has favoured me with a specimen of 
similar size, and which, being in -the transition state, admirably shows the 
characters of both species. 
