COTTID^. 353 



matus to the preopercular spine, which is not hooked, though 

 it may be said to be barbed, like an Eskimo fishing-hook or 

 fish-spear; secondly, as to the extent to which the scabrous 

 osseous scales are distributed. According to him they form 

 the lateral line, or run along it, and in some individuals exist 

 also under the pectorals and behind the eyes. In our speci- 

 men these scales cover the top of the head and nape, and 

 spread less densely to the gill-cover : but the lateral line is be- 

 set by none, except just at its commencement. It is most 

 likely a very variable character, depending partly or wholly on 

 sex and season. Thirdly, he describes the first dorsal and 

 pectorals as black, with pale lines ; whereas in our fish the 

 fine lines which cross the rays of these fins are black, the mem- 

 brane being pale. The figure in the ' Voyage en Scandina- 

 vie' shows no scabrous scales at all, but the preopercular spine 

 corresponds with our Plate, as does also the distribution of the 

 dark parts of the body, the fins however being darker. As 

 Kroyer could compare Gaimard's Iceland specimens with the 

 Greenland ones in the Royal Museum of Copenhagen, we 

 must consider their identity as established with the one we 

 have figured, and which was captured in Hudson's Bay. The 

 species is therefore spread widely through the northern seas, 

 and is very plentiful at Spitzbergen, as well as on the Green- 

 land coasts. 



Its generic name of Phobetor (<^ojB^rpov, quod metum incutit] 

 has reference to the dread that fishermen entertain of wounds 

 from its spines. It wants the vomerine teeth of Cottus, as 

 well as the palatine ones of Icelus, having only the premaxil- 

 lary and mandibular ones, and it has no opercular spine. The 

 size likewise of its pectorals and of its fins generally is greater 

 than is usual among the Cotti. 



Description. 



General aspect, much like that of Cottus scorpius or C. bu- 

 balis, with lively colours, larger fins, rather more protractile 

 jaws, and a somewhat smaller mouth. Length of the head 

 less than the breadth at the preopercula, and equalling a third 



