The Gurnet . 
33a 
although this is accompanied with little appearance that would lead us 
to suspect its existence.” ( British Fishes , 1877, vol. iii. p. 8.) 
Montaigne ( Essay liv.) bears witness to the amiable 
character of this little fish. 
u Mullets,” he writes, “ when one of their companions is engaged 
cross the line over their hack and with a fin they have there indented 
like a saw, cut and saw it asunder.” 
Thomas Muffett (. Healths Improvement, p. 158) tells 
us that— 
te sea-mullets differ little or nothing in shape from barbels, saying 
that they are very little or nothing bearded, and those that have beards, 
have them onely on the nether lip.” 
Gurnets, or Gurnards, according to Muffett (p. 152)', 
“ are of two sorts, swart or reddish ; either of Gurnet 
them are of a white, firm, dry, and wholesome 
substance.” By the dark variety the piper is perhaps 
meant. It was less common than the red gurnet. When 
soused, or pickled, the gurnet was held in low estimation. 
Falstaff exclaims, “ If I be not ashamed of my soldiers, 
I am a soused gurnet ” (1 Henry IF., i. 2, 12). 
“ Currs,” writes Muffett, i{ are supposed by Dr. Cajus to be all one 
with our gurnard; but it somewhat differeth, being of a very firm, 
whitish, dry sound and wholesome flesh.” 
The Miller’s Thumb, or Bullhead, is men- Miller’s 
tioned by William Browne in one of his 
pastoral poems 
u The trout, the dace, the pike, the breame. 
The eele, that loves the troubled streame, 
The millers thombe, the hiding loach, 
The perch, the ever nibbling roach, 
The shoats with whom is Tavie fraught. 
The foolish gudgeon, quickly caught. 
And last the little minnow-fish, 
Whose chiefe delight in gravell is.” 
( Britannia's Pastorals , book i. song ii.) 
