68 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Aspidoplwrus armatus, Lacep. Poiss. iii, p. 222. 



Aspidoplwrus Europeus, Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 201 ; Thompson, Pro. Zool. Soc. 

 1835, p. 80 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. (Ed. 1) i, p. 70, c. fig. (Ed. 2) i, p. 85 (Ed. 3) 

 ii, p. 69 ; Templeton, Mag. Nat. Hist. (2) 1837, i, p. 409 ; Parnell, Fish. Firth of 

 Forth, p. 28 ; Richardson, Fann. Bor. Amer. iii, p. 48. 



Aspidoplwrus cataphractus, Jenyns, Man. p. 346 ; Fries och Ekstr. p. 167, t. xl ; 

 Johnston, Berwick. N. F. Chib. 1838, i, p. 170; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Ireland, 

 iv, p. 82. 



Pogge, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, ii, p. 41, pi. lxxii. 



B. vi, D. 5/5-6, P. 16, V. 1/2, A. 6, C. 12, L. 1. 32, Ccec. pyl. 5-6, Vert. 11/25. 



Length of head 4<\ to 4|, of caudal fin \ to 7, height of body h\ to 6|- in the 

 total length. Eye 2 to 3 diameters in the length of the postorbital portion 

 of the head, 1 to \\ diameters apart, and nearer the snout than the posterior end of 

 the gill covers. Head wide and depressed, the body being octagonal in shape 

 becoming more angular and of less size posteriorly. Head covered by skin, 

 numerous small barbels at the angle of the mouth, on the chin and over the 

 branchiostegous rays. Interorbital space nearly flat. The maxilla reaches to 

 beneath the front edge of the eye. Nostrils tubular, the anterior being most 

 developed, while they are placed at some distance asunder. Two pairs of turbinal 

 spines elevated on an osseous base on the snout, and beneath each of which are a 

 pair of simple barbels. The posterior bone of the infraorbital ring is articulated 

 with the preopercle, and armed with a spine at its angle : while another strong 

 spine exists at the angle of the preopercle. Ridges on the head end in a blunt 

 occipital and likewise suprascapular spine. There are the orifices of about ten 

 large pores between the two preopercular spines along the inferior surface of the 

 head, behind the lower jaws. Teeth villiform in jaws, none on the vomer, 

 palatines, or tongue. Fins spines of the first dorsal rather weak and not higher 

 than the rays of the second dorsal, which latter are unbranched. Pectoral large, 

 and reaching to beneath the middle of the first dorsal, its rays are simple, as are 

 also those of the anal and caudal, the last fin being nearly wedge-shaped. Scales 

 in the form of scutes covered by bony plates : two spined ridges commence one at 

 either side of the occiput and coalesce behind the second dorsal fin, forming a 

 single one which passes to the upper surface of the base of the caudal fin : a second 

 commences from above the pectoral fin, and is continued to the middle of the side 

 of the base of the caudal fin : while on the lower surface of the body a blunt riclge 

 commences from below the base of either pectoral fin, coalescing just posterior to 

 the end of the base of the anal, and being continued as a single ridge to the lower 

 surface of the base of the caudal fin. Lateral-line not spined, and situated 

 between the two median ridges on the side of the body. Coecal appendages 

 5 or 6 short ones. Colours of a light gray tinged with yellow : 4 or 5 wide, and 

 nearly black, bands pass from the back down the sides, one also goes over the 

 head : numerous small and dark spots. Fins yellow with dark bands or marks. 

 Pectoral yellow with numerous dark spots and two black bands. These colours 

 become duller in adults. 



Varieties. The variations of colour in this species are considerable, and Liitken 

 1. c. gives a table of those observed in Iceland, Denmark and Faroe. 



Names. Pogge, armed bidl-head, lyrie, sea poacher : shell-backed bull-head, a 

 local name. Pluck, noble, Scot. Penbivl, Welsh. De Geharnaste Bonderpad, 

 Dutch. 



Habits. Usually frequents shores, appearing to prefer the mouths of rivers 

 and harbours, but has been recorded as captured some distance out at sea. In 

 rough localities it keeps near the bottom, but does not usually frequent rocks. 

 Its food consists of aquatic insects, worms, and small Crustacea. 



Means of capture. Often taken by shrimpers, especially in sandy bays : also 

 by the dredge, trawl, and ground seine. It has been recorded from the stomach 

 of a haddock captured five miles from land. Its mouth is too small to admit a 

 bait. 



I 'ned'uig. Yarrell says it spawns in May. In a female example 5 inches long 



