GURNARDS. 
85 
I rays^ and with the membrane often coloured; 
i there are three free rays before the base of each, 
: covered with a fleshy skin, well supplied with 
nerves. The ventrals are also large, and situated 
;i immediately beneath the pectorals. The anal 
j corresponds with the second dorsal. The caudal 
is slightly lunate, or hollowed at the extremity* 
' Both of the jaws, and the front of the vomer, are 
furnished with minute, close-set teeth. The gill- 
I opening is large, and the branchiostegous rays 
1 are seven. 
The swimming-bladder in this genus is rather 
I large, and presents considerable diversity of form. 
; In general it is somewhat heart-shaped, more or 
less cleft in front, but in the Sapphirine Gurnard, 
presently to be described, it is triple, the principal 
i sac giving off, on each side, an accessory sac, 
: tapering off to a point behind, but united to, and 
opening into, the main chamber at the front part. 
The membranes of whifh this organ are composed 
are thick, dense, and leathery. 
Notwithstanding this development of the air- 
vesicle, the Gurnards are ground-fishes. They 
chiefly haunt the vicinity of the bottom, where 
they feed on crabs, lobsters, and other Crustacea ; 
not, however, confining themselves to these, for 
they are very voracious. 
The Grey Gurnard {Trigla gurnarduSj Linn.) 
seems to affect the surface more than the other 
species of the genus. On the Atlantic shores of 
Scotland and Ireland it is not uncommon to see 
immense shoals of this Crooner^ (as it is called on 
the former coast,) rippling the smooth water as 
they cut the surface, so as to be readily shot with 
a fowling piece. 
