34 
LANTHORN GURNARD. 
interesting. By both these writers it is believed to possess the 
property of displaying a conspicuous light by night — an opinion 
as old at least as the days of Pliny, (B. ix, C. 43;) and Bisso 
supposes that this faculty is common to all the species of this 
genus. The shining parts of this fish are supposed to be the 
head and mouth; and so brilliant are they said to be, that, 
according to Lacepcde, when the fish darts through the watetj 
the appearance is like that of a shooting star. But until this 
phenomenon has been subjected to further inquiry, we cannot 
accept it as unquestionable, for appearances not unlike it have 
been noticed in other fishes, that are capable of receiving ^ 
different explanation, and Cuvier positively denies the existence 
of this property in any species of this genus. It is a well- 
known fact that there exist minute inhabitants of the ocean, of 
a pulpy nature, which are almost invisible to the naked eye; 
but which, when excited, are capable of giving out a brilliant 
light, that, when widely spread, is known to fishermen and 
sailors by the name of briming. It occurs in almost every 
region of the globe, except the very cold, and with us i® 
most abundantly noticed in the summer and autumn. These 
little animals, which are transparent in their own substance, 
are in the habit of attaching themselves to any body with 
which they come in contact, and when thus situated they 
display their brilliant light so much the more freely froin 
the activity put forth by the substance or animal on which 
they are fixed. There are instances known, in which animal® 
of the ocean, of several sorts, have been supposed to afford a 
conspicuous light, when the real cause has been no other 
than an excited molluscous creature attached to its surface; 
and such is probably the case as regards the LanthorO 
Gurnard. We learn also from Lacepede that these fishes swiu^ 
in companies, and when pmrsued by an enemy, that they spring 
into the air for escape. It is probably for this reason, that; 
among its other names, this fish was called the Milan and 
Milvus, or the Kite. 
The Lanthorn Gurnard scarcely reaches a foot in length' 
and is more slender than several others of this genus, in thi® 
respect approaching more nearly to the form of the Grey 
Common Gurnard, but with still less elevation of the head- 
The eye is moderately large, and from it the head slope® 
