41 



ASPIDOPHORUS. 



The body covered with angular plates; the pectoral fins simple, 

 (without separate fingers.) Two dorsal fias, distant from the tail; 

 ventrals small. 



POGGE. 



ARMED BULLHEAD. LYRIE, SEA POACHER. NOBLE. 



Catai:iliractus, 



Coitus Cataphr actus, 



Aspidophore arrne, 



Cottus Schoneveldii, 



Aspidojjhorus Europoeus, 



" Cataphractus, 



<( 



Agonus Cataphractus, 



JoNSTON; quoting Schoneveld, who was 



the first to describe it. 

 WiLLOUGHBY; p. 211, Tab. N. 6. 

 LiNNiEUS. Bloch; pi. 39. 

 Donovan; pi. 16. 

 Lacepede. 



Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 216. 

 CuviER. 



Jenyns; Manual, p. 346. 

 Yarkell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 85. 

 GuNTHER; Catalogue Br. Museum, 



vol. ii, p. 211. 



This fish is found to abound most in the German Ocean; 

 but it is not uncommon along the shores of the British Islands; 

 where it is sometimes taken in harbours or near the mouths 

 of rivers, but occasionally at several miles from land, and at a 

 depth of several fathoms; where it keeps near the bottom, and 

 feeds on worms and the smaller crustaceous animals. I have 

 not heard of its taking a bait; one reason of which may be 

 the small size of its mouth, that will not admit of a hook of 

 the size commonly used in the places it frequents, which are 

 stony or rough ground that is free from rocks. It is therefore 

 for the most part obtained only by nets, the dredge, or trawl. 

 The Rev. AValter Gregor, of Macduff, informs me that he has 

 found it in the tide pools near thai; place, and also that he 

 VOL. n. G 



