S8 THE DISCOBOLI. 



1803, Hist. Poiss., V. 272. Goiio Kolreuter, 1764, Nov. Comm. Ac. Petrop., IX. 439, pi. 9, figs. 5, 6. 

 Gobius Miill., 1806, Zool. Dan., IV. 16, pi. 134. Liparis communis Sab,, 1824, App. Parry's Voy., 

 ccxii; Ross, 1835, Ross's Sec. Voy., xlvii; Rich., 1835, F. B. Am., III. 263. 



Liparis nostras Johnson, 1686, App. Willugh. Hist. Pise, p. 17. Liparis ophidoides. Swains., 1838, 

 Nat. Hist. Fish., II. 339. Uncluuus iiw-Xcr Penn., 1776, Brit. Zool., III. 135, pi. 21, fig. 3,-1812, 

 Brit. Zool., HI. 179, pi. 24. Unctuous Lump-Sucker Don., 1803, Brit. Fish., II. pi. 47. Sea Snail, 

 AVillugh., 1686, Hist. Pise, App., 17; Petiver, 1711, Gazoph., pi. 51, fig. 5; Couch, 1863, Brit. Fish., 

 II. 190, pi. 106. 



B. 6; D. 33-35; A. 27-29; P. 34-37; C. 12-14; Vert. 38-39; C^eca 

 10-13. 



Body moderately stout, somewhat high on the shoulders, compressed 

 behind the body cavity in the caudal portion, which is deep and rather thick 

 anteriorly, tapering rapidly. Body proper about half of the entire length 

 to the base of the tail. Length of the head little less than its width, a little 

 more than its depth, about the same as the greatest depth of the body, and 

 contained about three and one half times in the total length, without the 

 caudal. Snout short, broad, blunt, nearly three and one half times in the 

 head, very convex in the internasal region. Mouth moderate, maxillary 

 reaching a vertical from the eye, lower jaw shorter. Teeth small, in pave- 

 ment, alternating in the different rows, tricuspid. Lower lip interrupted in 

 the middle, one third or more of its length. The fold above the upper lip 

 with six to eight notches, below the openings of the pores. A series of six 

 pores, on each side, from the middle of the fold above the upper lip, passes 

 backward and curves up behind the eye ; another series, of seven on each 

 side, passes from the middle of the chin back and upward toward the upper 

 edge of the gill opening. Eye small, nearly as long as the snout, contained 

 four and one half times in the length of the head, or less than twice in the 

 convex interorbital space. Nasal tubules short ; posterior smaller, between 

 the eyes ; anterior farther forward, larger. A large pore is situated a short 

 distance in front of the nostril toward the tip of the snout. Gill openings 

 narrow, not as wide as the eye, above the base of the pectoral. Nape and 

 shoulders high. Cheeks swollen. Skin smooth, thin, easily detached. 



Dorsal and anal fins rising gradually, the rays attaining their greatest 

 height in the hinder third of the length, united with the caudal by mem- 

 brane. The separation of the three fins is less marked than in L. Montagui, 

 so much so that it is difficult in some cases to determine whether certain 

 rays belong to the caudal. Dorsal notch shallow or absent, most noticeable 

 in the breeding season. First ray little farther back than the opercular 

 angle, or the hinder edge of the disk, five or six of the anterior rays crooked 



