95 ^ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sub-class Teleostei. Cottoidje. 



line. It rises close to the gill opening. The ventrals rise just back 

 of the pectorals, are small composed of one short strong spinous 

 ray, and two sometimes three soft ones. Anal is opposite the 

 second dorsal and similar in form to it. Caudal fin nearly even in 

 width and slightly rounded at its extremity. 



Eay formula — 



D. 16, 13 ; P. 18 ; V. 1, 3 ; A. 15 ; C. 12. 



Stnonymes. — Cotius hispidus, Bl.. 



Scorpena Jlavii, Mitch. 

 Hemitripterus Americanus, Cur. 

 Cottus Acadianus, Penn. 



This has also been removed from the Triglidae family into the 

 Cottoidaeof Richardson. 



Genus Aspidophoroidks, Lacep. 



Gen. Char. Body octagonal covered with scaly plates ; head thicker than the 

 body, with points and depressions above, flattened below ; teeth in both jaws only, 

 none on the vomer ; snout with recurved spines, branch iostegous rays six ; body 

 tapering to the tail ; one or two dorsal fins distinct. — Storer. 



Aspidophoroides monopterygius, Guvier. 

 Asphidophore, One fin Aspidophore. 

 I place this species on the list of Maine fishes from hearsay evi- 

 dence, never having seen a specimen. It is a very rare fish and 

 most of the individuals obtained have been taken from the stomach 

 of fishes caught on our coast, or further south. Storer gives a very 

 fine engraving of it and a full description in detail. 



It is small, with a slender body divided longitudinally into eight 

 rows of scaly plates which give it an octagonical shape. One 

 dorsal fin on the last half of the body at the extreme portion of the 

 dorsal furrow. 

 Ray formula — 



D. 5; P. 10 ; V. 1, 2; A. 4; C. 16. 

 Length 5 inches. 



Synonymes. — Agonus monopterygius, Bl. 



Cotius monopterygius, Richardson. 



This genus has been removed from the Triglidae to the family 

 Agonoidae of Swainson, and sub-family Agoninae of Gill. 



