This section is from the book "A Manual Of British Vertebrate Animals", by Leonard Jenyns. Also available from Amazon: A Manual Of British Vertebrate Animals.
Constantly red, with a black spot on the first dorsal: this last with the first three rays smooth, without granulations.
T. Cuculus, Block, Ichth. pl. 59. Mont, in Wern. Mem. vol. ii. p. 457. Flem. Brit. An. p. 215. T. Blochii, Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 50. Red Gurnard, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 278. pi. 57. Id. (Edit. 1812). vol. iii. p. 373. pl. 66. Le Grondin Rouge, Cuv. et Val. Poiss. torn. iv. p. 48. Cuv. Reg. An. torn. ii. p. 160.
From nine to twelve inches.
Distinguished from the last species, which it closely resembles in all its other characters, by the first three spines in the dorsal tfin not being granulated, but simply with a few denticulations on the anterior edges of the first two: the crests likewise of the scales on the dorsal ridges are not crenated as in the Grey Gurnard, but entire, each terminating in a little point. Colour constantly red, with a conspicuous black spot on the upper part of the first dorsal, extending from the second to the fifth spine. From the T. Pini, it is easily distinguished, by the serratures of the lateral line, and the absence of the transverse striae.
D. 8 - 19; A. 18; C. 11, besides short ones; P. 11, and 3; V. 1/5.
Number of vertebrae thirty-seven.
Never attains the size of the T. Gurnardus, and is not so abundant. The above description is from specimens taken at Weymouth. It is •doubtful whether the Cuculus of Willughby* be this species or the T. Pini.
 
Continue to: