1994: Bulletin ^7, United States National Museum. 



Civilian Staff on board H. M. S. Challenger during tier magnificent scientific 

 explorations.) (Goode & Bean.) (Eu.) 



Cottus thomsonii, Gunther, Proc.Koyal.Soc. Edinburgh, xi, 1882, 679, Challenger Station 4. 

 Cottunculus torvus, GoODE, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., in, 1880, 479, Gulf Stream, off Rhode 



Island; GooDE & Bean, Bull. Mu8. Comp. ZooL, X, 212, 213, 1883; Joedan & Gilbebt, 



Synopsis, 688, 1883. 

 Cottunculus thomsonii, Guntheb, Challenger Report, xxii, 61, pi. 9, flg. B, 1887. 



736. MALACOCOTTUS, Bean. 



Malacocottus, Bean, Proc. V. S. Nat. Mus. 1890, 42 (zoiiunm). 



Shape similar to that of Cottunculus. Body tapering rapidly to the 

 slender tail; head large; mouth terminal; jaws subequal; minute villi- 

 form toeth in broad bands on maxillary and mandible ; vomer and palate 

 toothless; preoperculum armed with short, stout, simple spines. Bones 

 of the skull thin. Gills 3A, no slit behind the last. Gill openings wide, 

 the membranes broadly attached to the isthmus. Gill rakers tubercular, 

 in moderate number. Spinous dorsal low, separated by a deep notch from 

 the soft dorsal. Pectorals procurrent in front; ventrals small; caudal 

 rounded; vent distant from the anal origin. Head and body naked. Lat- 

 eral line consisting of a series of large pores. North Pacific. (//aAaxo;, 

 soft; Coitus.) 



2365. MAL.VCOCOTTUS ZOxNURUS, Bean. 



Eye 3i; snout IH; depth equaling length of head without snout. D. 

 IX, 14; A. 11; \. 1, 3; lateral line (pores) about 14. Interorbital spaces 

 less than + length of eye. Maxillary extending to below middle of eye. 

 Pectoral reaching to a vertical through the anal origin or a little beyond; 

 ventral scarcely as long as eye; spinous dorsal low, its base i as long as 

 head, its longest spine f as long as eye ; origin of dorsal immediately 

 above upper angle of gill opening; least height of tail scarcely | length 

 of eye; four spines on preopercle, the largest less than * as long as 

 eye and with a supplementary spine at its base. A dark-brown saddle- 

 shaped band over the end of spinous dorsal and 2 on soft dorsal; a brown 

 band at base of tail and 3 on caudal; pectoral with several indistinct dark 

 bands intermingled with pale areas; tips of pectorals in their lower half 

 milky white. Length 4f inches. Coasts of Alaska, about the peninsula. 

 Concerning this species Dr. Gilbert observes: 



Several specimens were taken north of TJnalaska Island and south of Unimak Island, 

 in 138 and 351 fathoms. Nasal spines obsolete; supraorbital rim low, slightly elevated 

 in front but not behind, the interorbital space wide, shallowly concave. Occiput with 

 2 blunt conical x)rotuberances iu lieu of ridges, and without spines; a slight occipital 

 depression ; preopercular angle with 3 radiating spines of nearly equal length, a smaller 

 spme directed outward in advance of the middle one of the 3 ; below these a partially con- 

 cealed spine directed downward and forward. Opercular rib very strong, sharp anteriorly, 

 broadening behind and provided with 3 low ridges, not ending iu a definite spine; a spi- 

 nous point on subopercle and 1 on interopercle; none on shoulder. Anterior nasal tube 

 short, the posterior margin prolonged into a laciniate flap; head well provided with 

 slender cutaneous filaincuts, 3 on upper portion of eyeball, 4 in a transverse line behind 



