15 



FOUR-HORNED COTTUS. 



Cottus quadricomis, Linnaeus. Cuvier. Blocii; pi. 108. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 345. 



" " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 83. 



Cotte quatrecor is, Lacepede. Gunther; Catalogue of 



Br. Museum, vol. ii, p. 166. 



This species is an inhabitant of the Baltic, and the Northern 

 Ocean as far as Greenland; but it is only of late that it is 

 known to be a native of our own country. It was first'observed 

 as British by Dr. John Edward Grey, of the British Museum, 

 who communicated the circumstance to Mr. Yarrell ; and it has 

 since been noticed on the coast of Scotland, where probably it 

 is not rare. It appears to be an active fish, eager after prey, 

 for which it lies in wait under the shelter of the sea-weeds; 

 but its peculiar habits have been little studied. Lacepede 

 says it enters rivers, but it does not appear to be abundant 

 anywhere. 



In size it exceeds the Common Father-lasher and Bubalis, 

 and is easily distinguished from either of them. The head is 

 wide, flat, and, notwithstanding the tubercles or horns, smoother, 

 than in either of the above-named species. Jaws equal, and 

 the gape not wide; teeth fine. Eyes moderately large, close 

 to the top of the head, but with a flat space between them; 

 the pair of nostrils on each side separate from each other. In 

 front above the upper lip three tubercles placed triangularly. 

 Behind the eyes two elevated tubercles, recurved, and a 

 corresponding pair at the back of the head, having granulated 

 tops. On the hinder portion of the gill-cover a sharp but not 

 very prominent spine, pointing oblicpuely upward, and below 

 it a shorter one directed backward; a third still lower, pointing 

 downward. Body very wide over the back ; belly much 

 distended; behind the vent more slender, and especially so 



