Jordan and Evermami . — Fishes of North America. 1999 



the head almost unarmed. It agrees with Coitus {Enophrys) claviger in 

 the number of rays in the dorsal, but its ventrals are described as having? 

 more rays than usual in this genua. Capt. J. C. Ross informs us that it 

 seldom exceeds 2 inches in length, and that it is very abundant on the east 

 side of the peninsula of Boothia, affording a plentiful supplj^ of food to 

 the niiraerous waterfowl which breed there. "A species of Coftiis, similar 

 in habits to C. (/ohio, very adundant on the shores of north Georgia (lat. 

 75°), inhabiting tlic pools of water left by the tide, and the mouths of 

 small rivulets l)y which the snow on melting found its way to the sea; 

 the largest individual did not equal 2 inches in length; the head is more 

 compressed and not so much flattened as in the Cotius quadricornis, and is 

 armed with 2 strong spines placed before and between the eyes; the gill 

 covers are also armed with 4 strong spines; the i)ectoral tins are larger in 

 proportion than those of C. (johio, and the upper jaw rather exceeds the 

 lower; the lateral lines are furnished with a series of small tubercles 

 directed backward; color light, with clusters of minute dusky spots." 

 (Richardson; quoted from Sabine.) Not recognized by recent writers. 

 Liitken compares it with Icehis hieornis, but it must be different, and it 

 may be identical with Poroeoftiis ([uadrifiUs; it is at least a Porocottus. 

 {polaris, polar.) 



Coitus polaris, Sabine, App. Parry's First Voyage, ccxill, north Georgia; J. C. Ross, 

 App. LHi; Richardson, Fauna Boreali- Americana, iii, 43, 1836; Jordan & Gilbert, 

 Synopsis, 706. 



2370. POROCOTTUS Ql ADRIFILIS, Gill. 



This species is known only from Dr. Gill's account, as follows: 



" D. YIIl, 13. The color is purple, irregularly spotted with black. There 

 IS a dark spot under the eye, and another on the maxillary. The dorsals, 

 caudal, and pectorals are irregularly variegated with black. On the pec- 

 torals there is a dark spot at the upper axilla, and another larger one 

 toward the middle of the base. There is a slender superciliary filameut 

 and 1 on each side of the nape. It is to the presence of these that the 

 specitic name is designed to draw attention. Specimens were obtained in 

 Bering Straits at the same time as Boreocottua axillaris, Gill.'' 



The genus Porocottus, Gill, is thus described: 



"Body anteriorly subcylindrical, rapidly declining to the caudal. Skin 

 naked. Lateral line opening by pores in raised papilla^ under a cutaneous 

 keel. Head large aud depressed, subrhomboidal. Nasal spines small. 

 Preopercle with a single hooked spine. Opercle without a longitudinal 

 rib or spine. Large pores under the lower jaw and on various jjarts of 

 the head. Mouth moderate. Teeth on the jaws and front of the vomer. 

 Branchiostogal membrane continuous under the throat, but attached 

 along the middle to the throat, almost as far as the margin. Branchios- 

 tegal rays .5. Dorsals separate; the first low, the second oblong and 

 opposite the anal. Ventrals small, behind the pectorals, each with a 

 spine and 3 soft rays. The Porocotti have a strong resemblance to the 

 Boreocotfi, but are distinguished by the naked skin, hooked preopercular 



