PLATE CXVIII, 
Pipes, Will. Ichth. p. 9.82. 
Rai/, Pisc.p. 89. 
Penn. Brit. Zool. 3 . p. 234 . n. 3 . t. 14 . 
I’he Piper appears to be a local fish on the British coasts, and 
is far more rarely brought to the London markets than any' other 
of the Gurnard tribe known to be natives of our seas, the Trigla 
lineatus excepted. Mr. Pennant received this species from Mr. 
Pitfield, of Exeter, and says he has been informed this fish is found 
at all times of the year on the western coast, and is taken in nets. 
If this Information be correct, it is possible this fish may have 
become more scarce of late ; for we must observe, that our en- 
quiries after the species on the western coasts have not hitherto 
proved successful, although Gurnards in general are abundant in 
that part of Britain. Neither have we met with this fish in 
Anglesea, upon the coast of which, the same writer informs us, 
it is also found. It does not appear, upon the credit of the best 
w'riters, to be common in other parts of Europe: Gmelin speaks 
of it only as a native of the British seas. 
Our specimen of this fish is about eighteen inches in length; it 
is said to grow to the length of two feet, and three pounds and a 
half in weight. The general colour is a pale flesh-colour, rosy or 
darker on the back, and the belly white ; the fins bluish at the 
base, and tinged with reddish towards the extremities ; the eye* 
full, with the irides of a fine golden yellow, and the pupil purplish 
black. 
