62 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



it, with thirteen rays. The tail is very slender, and the caudal fin, which is even, contains 

 but thirteen rays. The membranes of all the rays are exceedingly thin and delicate. 



Color. Above minutely punctate with olive-brown, and varied with obscure darker blotches ; 

 abdomen soiled white. Head blackish brown above. Pectoral and caudal fins tinged with 

 orange, and both obsoletely marked with three or four interrupted bands. 



Length, 2-0- 3-0. Depth, 0" 25. 



Fin rays, D. 7.16; P. 13; V. 3 ; A. 13; C. 13 f. 



This curious little fish, which is strongly allied by its form to Uranoscopus, was first 

 pointed out to me by my friend Dr. Emmons, in a small stream emptying into Round lake, 

 Hamilton county. We subsequently detected it in Lake Pleasant, in the same county. It 

 lies quiescent for a long time near the bottom, and moves slowly in search of food. When 

 disturbed, it darts suddenly forward with great velocity. Occasionally it takes the hook. 



GENUS ASPIDOPHORUS. Lacepede, Cuvier. 



Body much elongated, and covered with scaly plates. Head depressed. Snout with recurved 

 spines. Minute velvet-like teeth in the jaws, vomer and palatines. Branchial rays six. 



THE AMERICAN ASPIDOPHORE. 



ASPIDOPHORUS MONOPTERYGIUS. 



PLATE II. FIG. 6. 



Agonus vwnopterygius. Bl. Schn. p. 104. 



ISAspidophore a unc stule dorsale. Cuv. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 4, p. 224, pi. 169. 

 Cottus monopteryghis. Richardson, Faun. Bor. Am. Fishes, p. 50. 

 Aspidophoroides id., The Btdl-head. Storer, Fishes of Mass. p. 22, pi. 1, fig. 1. 



Characteristics. Small ; with a single dorsal. Body octagonal. Length four to six inches. 



Description. Body elongated, quadrangular in front of the dorsal fin, tapering gradually to 

 the tail, and covered with eight series of plates on the body and six on the tail. Head broad ; 

 orbits large and prominent, with a deep furrow between. The snout in advance of the orbits 

 is concave, and surmounted by two small recurved spines at its extremity ; and a third, 

 smaller, behind. The opercle with a spinous process. Mouth small, with fleshy lips, with 

 short velvet teeth on each jaw. Scales hexagonal, with radiated striae. Dorsal fin placed in 

 a furrow between the angles of the large dorsal plates, which exists from the nape to the tail. 

 Dorsal and caudal fins rounded ; (in the figure, drawn from an imperfect specimen.) 



Color. Light brown, with six transverse dark semi-bands. 



Length, 4-0-6-0. 



Fin rays, D. 5 ; P. 10; V. 1.2; A. 5 ; C. 16. 



