OCR Text |
Show 1879.] OF WESTON-SUPER-MARE. 747 P A G R U S VULGARIS, Cuv. & Val. Somersetshire (Baker). PAGELLUS CENTRODONTUS, De La Roche. Sea-Bream. Somersetshire (Baker). COTTUS SCORPIUS, Bloch. Sting-fish or Sea-Scorpion. This fish is taken at Weston during the winter. I have received several examples, captured at Southend, at the mouth of the Thames, from Mr. Carrington, naturalist to the Royal Westminster Aquarium. Ihe spines at the preopercular angle are occasionally reduced from three to two, while the usual number of the dorsal spines is 10, and of the anal rays 10 instead of 11 or 12. COTTUS BUBALIS, Euphr. Father Lasher or Long-spined Sea- Scorpion. r C. groenlandicus, Cuv. & Val.; C. labradoricus, Girard ; C. Storer. The American form or variety is said to have " the ridges of the bones of the head tubercular, not covered with skin" (Gunther, Catal. ii. p. 165). I find the same appearances in some examples received from Southend. The variety of Cottus scorpius mentioned by Couch as having a « row of tendrils hanging from the skin above the eyes " was probably an example of this species, which usually has a few short tentacles about the head and above the eyes, while there is frequently rather a large one at the outer end of the maxilla. TRIGLA CUCULUS, Linn. Elleck or Red Gurnard. T.pini, Bloch. Occasionally taken at Weston. TRIGLA LINEATA, Gmel. ; Linn. Streaked Gurnard. This, as well as the next two, are occasionally captured. This fish is said to be very seldom taken by a bait. Mr. Cornish ('Zoologist,' 1878, p. 423) observes that it is never taken on a hook. At the Westminster Aquarium I observe that these fishes become quite as tame as the other forms, taking pieces of mussel or shrimps as well as any other fish, and apparently with as little fear. TRIGLA HIRUNDO, Bloch. Sapphirine Gurnard. T, pceciloptera, Cuv. & Val. TRIGLA GURNARDUS, Linn. Grey Gurnard. T. cuculus, Bloch ; T. blochii, Yarrell. I received one example from Mr. Carrington, captured at Southend, in which the white spots have run into narrow and sinuous lines, while a black blotch, surrounded by a light ring, exists on the first dorsal fin. The colours in this species vary exceedingly : in some there are no white spots, the upper half of the body being of a slate-grey, conjoined with which a black blotch usually exists on |