Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/236

1402 but whichever part of the body I touched, it unerringly struck with its spines, by bending the body and throwing its head back with a ra- pid jerk. If a person should be unfortunate enough to be stung, the best application is to rub into it equal parts of the tincture of opium and olive oil.

Lesser Weever, Trachinus vipera. This fish I have caught near Hayle, as it lay in the wet sand. It is smaller and more active than the last-named species, and as it is equally well-armed, I suppose it is a more dangerous fish to handle : my specimen I killed before I took it up. This fish, like all others which burrow in the sand, or use the tail as a prehensile organ, has a pulsating sac about the root of the caudal fin, from which blood is specially forwarded to all parts of that organ. This "heart" has been figured by Dr. M. Hall, in his work on the circulation, as it appears in the conger.

Surmullet, Mullus surmuletus. In the district of the Land's End this is a rare species, and those that occur are not so large as in the eastern part of the county. In the winter it goes into deep water, while in the early part of summer it approaches the shores, entering our sandy creeks and up-rivers as far as the salt water rises. It pre- fers a hard, sandy bottom, with a few rocks. Its food is the minute Crustacea, and it breeds in the autumn.

The whole of the Gurnards are characterized by the hardness or bonyness of their cheeks.

The Red Gurnard, Trigla cuculus. This species is frequently called the "soldier," "cuckoo," "red ellick, "gaverick." It is generally of a bright red colour, but when in high season, is spotted with golden yellow. It is very common, and though not much sought after for the table, yet forms a very palatable dish. Its name of "cuckoo" is probably derived from the grunting sound it makes after it is captured, which somewhat resembles the sound of the notes of the bird of that name.

Sapphirine Gurnard, T. hirundo. Common at all seasons on rough ground: it is called by the Cornish fishermen "tubfish." This is the best as well as the largest of the British Gurnards, and is also the most brilliant. The pectoral fins, which are very large, and generally expanded when the fish is caught, are of a bright red, with azure-blue margins.

The Piper, T. lyra. Common in Mount St. Ives, at uncertain periods. The head is large, and the body tapers from it to the tail. This also makes a noise when caught.

Streaked Gurnard, T. lineata. This is rare, and very irregular