SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. gty 



Sub-class Teleostei, Cottoid.®. 



upward and backward at its posterior upper angle ; a second, be- 

 neath this, directed obliquely backward and downward ; and a third, 

 much smaller, at its inferior angle, and the pre-operculum is 

 rounded at its edge and furnished with five spinous processes ; the 

 three posterior of which are the larger. Two spines upon the sca- 

 pular bones and two upon the suborbitars. Four spinous projec- 

 tion upon the supraorbitars, all of which are pointed backwards ; 

 one at the anterior angle of the eye ; a second with its base contin- 

 ued under the greater portion of the ridge ; and the two smaller 

 ones behind. Two elevated sharp ridges upon the occiput which 

 bifurcate posteriorly into spinous points. Eyes circular, very large ; 

 the diameter of the orbit equal to one-third the length of the head, 

 when the jaws are closed ; nostrils just in front of the eyes, the 

 posterior one largest. The jaws, pharynx, vomer, and palatine 

 bones are armed with numerous minute teeth ; upper jaw very pro- 

 tractile, and has an emarginature at its centre, into which the ex- 

 tremity of the lower jaw shuts when the mouth is closed. 



The chin prominent. The lateral line above the operculum, and 

 taking the curve of the body, terminates at its caudal ray. About 

 thirty-six tubes are seen in the curve of the line. — Slorer's ffisi. of 

 Fishes of Mass., Mem. Am. Acad., Vol. 5, p. 86. 



Ray formula — 



D. 15, 15 ; P. 18 ; V. 1, 5 ; A. 3, T ; C. 19 



Length one foot. 



Synonymes — Perca marina, Pennant. 



Serranus JVorvegicus, Fleming. 

 Scorpcena JVorvegica, Jen. 



Family CoTTOioiE, Rich. Sub-family Cottin^, Bona. 



Char. Body. Very thick anteriorly, tapering rapidly poste- 

 riorly. An absence of true scales ; spine not always smooth. In 

 some perfectly smooth ; in others studded with minute prickles, 

 simple or compound. Others with series of longitudinal long 

 shields ; others with parallel rows of small scale-like plates, various 

 in form and structure. 



Head. Very large. Opercular apparatus provided with large 

 spines (Hence the name scull pin.) Three complete gills of two 

 branchial combs, and a half one with but one comb. Teeth of 



