COTTID.E. XCV. 255 



spinous dorsal with two black spots; D. VII 16} A. 13. 

 Rivers, Mich, to Ills, and Minn. 



5. P. wilsoni, (Grd.) Gill. WILSON'S BULL -HEAD. 

 Rather larger than the last; spinous dorsal* higher; and 

 the upper rays of the pectoral fins branched; Pennsyl- 

 vania to Indiana. 



3. TAURIDEA, Jordan & Rice. Cow - FACED 



SCTJLPINS. 



1. T. spilota, (Cope) Jordan & Rice. RICE'S SCULPIN. 

 Head and body elongate, depressed; head 3-| in length; 

 without caudal; body abruptly contracted opposite base 

 of anal, forming an extremely slender caudal peduncle; 

 head very broad and flat, as broad as long; the profile 

 rising rapidly from occiput to dorsal, which runs along a 

 sort of keel; eyes close together, entirely superior; pre- 

 opercular spine extremely large, hooked backwards, and 

 slightly spiral, giving to the physiognomy a wonderful 

 resemblance to that of a cow; three spines hooked down- 

 wards below the large one, the lower concealed; base 

 of opercle with a strong spine directed downwards; head 

 smooth; space above lateral line behind head covered 

 with small stiff prickles, visible as small black specks 

 when the skin is dry; no spines in the axillary region; 

 coloration quite unlike that of our other Cottoids; pale 

 brown, finely speckled and mottled with darker; belly 

 white; D. VIII 17; anal 12; ventrals I, 4. Lake Michi- 

 gan and tributaries in deep water. (Cottopsis ricei, 

 Nelson; Uranidea spilota, Cope.) This species has 

 been thus far referred to as a Cottopsis, but it has little 

 affinity with C. asper. Cottopsis has essentially the 

 character of Potamocottus, but the skin above is densely 

 villous, covered thickly with short velvety projections. 



