30 2 AMERICAN FISHES. 



as the " Sea-raven," '• Rock Toad fish," or " Deep-water Sculpin," which 

 is found as far south as the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, is abundant 

 throughout New England, and has been discovered off" the coast of Nova 

 Scotia. This fish, Hemiiripterus hispidits, or H. avicricanus, attains the 

 length of two feet, and is conspicuous by reason of its russet-orange or 

 brick-red colors, its harlequin-like markings, its warted body, its gro- 

 tesquely elongated fins, and above all, by its peculiar habit of swallowing 

 air until its belly is inflated like a balloon. 



These fishes feed upon all bottom animals, mollusks, crustaceans, sea- 

 urchins, and worms, and may also be found in the harbors devouring any 

 refuse substances which may be lying upon the bottom. They breed for 

 the most part in summer, and certain species, like the Sea-raven and the 

 Greenland Sculpin, at that time assume very brilliant colors. They are 

 not eaten by our people, although the Sea-raven is decidedly palatable. 

 Those species which occur in Greenland, are said to be eaten by the 

 natives. As has been remarked, they are a source of annoyance to fisher- 

 men, Avhose bait they steal and whose hooks, especially the hooks of their 

 trawl-lines, they encumber. Boys delight to catch them and fix a piece of 

 light wood between their teeth ; they are then unable to swim and struggle 

 vigorously at the top of the water. 



About the fish-curing stations they are very abundant, and exceedingly 

 useful as scavengers, gorging themselves with refuse thrown back into the 

 sea ; they care little for the presence of man, and can hardly be driven 

 away, even when roughly punched with a boat-hook. 



In the lakes and streams of the Northern States are numerous species of 

 Uranidca and allied genera, known in some localities by the English 

 name of "Miller's Thumb," also called "Bull-heads," "Goblins," 

 "Blobs," and " Muffle-jaws." They are small and of no importance 

 except as the food for larger species. 



The Cottidce, according to Jordan, are represented on the Pacific coast 

 by about eighteen separate species, known by such names as " Sculpin." 

 "Drummer," " Salpa," "Johnny," " Biggy-head," and "Cabezon." 

 Only one of these species, ScorpCBnichthys marvwratus, has any sort of 

 economic importance ; the others may be considered collectively. The 

 names applied to them may be briefly considered. The name Sculpin, of 

 course, is derived from that in use for the Atlantic species of Cottus. 

 " Drummer," comes from the quivering noise made by many species when 



