[Illustration: FLYING GURNARD.]
These fascinating Sea-scorpions are remarkable for the hideous
appearance of their heads, quite as much as for the beautiful markings
of their body. The head is mailed and cuirassed in a wonderful manner;
it is very large in proportion to the body, broad in front and
compressed at the sides, and completely covered with large spines and
fringed barbs; the longest of these are over the eyes, and the broadest
near the corners of the mouth; the jaws are furnished with a great
number of small sharp teeth; the tongue is loose, thin and pointed at
the end; the lips are also movable, and the upper lip is composed of two
bones which form a furrow in the middle where they join; the nostrils
are single and lie midway between the mouth and the eyes. The whole
effect of these Fishes, so different from other species, gives them a
disagreeable and even hideous appearance, and has procured for them
various names, such as Sea-frog, Sea-devil, Sea-scorpion, and others
equally significant. And whether we consider the curious and remarkable
appearance of the Red Gurnard as he moves along the sandy bottom,
seeming to walk on the strange projections that look like huge toes
growing out from the front fins—or the still more startling effect of
the Flying Gurnard—it is not surprising that superstitious fishermen
have told remarkable tales of these strange Fish in the past.
Twelve species of the Trigula or Gurnards are known. The commonest
species are the Grey Gurnard—a silvery grey Fish, clouded with brown,
and speckled with black. This is found in British seas. The Red Gurnard
is commonly found in the Mediterranean. This is a fine, bright red-rose
color, paler beneath and more vivid about the fins. The Perlon or
Sapharine Gurnard is a large species, handsomely marked with green and
blue hues.
The Flying Gurnard is much like the other Flying-fishes in the formation
of the front fins into wings, and in the manner of their flight, but
their appearance is very different because of their queer armored head
and the large eyes, as well as the brilliant markings peculiar to the
Gurnard family.