SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. gg 



Sub-class Teleostei. Cottoid^. 



is another much smaller, and pointing backward and downward. 

 Below this a smaller one pointing a little forwards. The operculum 

 has but two. The larger on the upper anterior angle pointing 

 backwards, and a small one on the inferior portion pointing down- 

 ward. On the shoulder blade, just above the pectoral fin is another, 

 pointing upward and backward, and above the commencement of 

 the fleshy part, a membrane of the operculum, is another, but rather 

 short. The mouth is large, and capable of being very much dis- 

 tended bythe fish itself. Card-lilie teeth are upon the jaws in 

 pretty compact order ; also upon the pharyngeal and palatine bones. 

 Eyes large and the orbits projecting from the skull. 



The body variegated in color, with a mixture of black and green- 

 ish yellow. Light colored in the belly, with a yellowish or browned 

 tint occasionally. There are four dusky bars commencing on the 

 back extending downward a short distance irregularly. It tapers 

 gradually and regularly to the tail. 



First dorsal smaller than the second with rounded margin on the 

 top. Nine spinous rays, third ray largest, and all the rays are 

 above the edge of the membrane. It is of a sooty color with brown 

 bands. 



The second dorsal has articulated rays, and is nearly twice as 

 long as the first. It is brownish, with three brown bands nearly 

 horizontal across it. The pectorals are very large with rounded or 

 circular edge when expanded. Yellowish above, flesh colored 

 below, and crossed with six brown circular bands. Ventrals 

 rather slender but long, yellowish white, the rays projecting above 

 the membrane. Anal fin nearly even and opposite second dorsal ; 

 yellowish color, with two dark bands. Caudal long and even at 

 its end. 



Ray formula — 



D. 9, 16; P. 18; V. 3 ; A. 14; C. 12. 



Length ten to twenty inches. 



Synonymes. — Scorpius Virginianus, Willoughby. 

 Coitus octodecim spinosus, Mitch. 

 Coitus Virginianus, Storer. 

 Cottus scorpius, Schroep. 

 Acanthocottus Virginianus, Girard. 



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