I06 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. $2 



eastern cottids, Coitus gracilis^ under the name C. viscosus: "These 

 fish usually inhabit clear, spring waters, especially the spring 

 runs which flow through rich meadoAvs, bordered by turf, and hav- 

 ing a shallow pebbly bottom. They lie concealed under projecting 

 clods, flat stones, boards, or whatever may serve their purposes of 

 concealment. On being disturbed, they usually hasten off to fresh 

 cover, but sometimes remain motionless. Occasionally they occur 

 in larger bodies of water, of less purity; but we have never seen 

 them in creeks or rivers. Sometimes they are seen lying close to the 

 edge of rivulets formed by leaking embankments, and where the 

 water is far from clear. They always lie close to the bottom, and 

 are never seen poised in the water." 



According to Smitt, the common European species (Cottiis gobio) 

 '■frequents shallow beaches and at spots of this nature is seldom 



:<^ 



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F^G. 23- — Cottus gracilis male. After C. gobioides Girard (Sonrel). 



sought in vain, if one raises the stones. It is under them that it 

 usually passes its time in quiet and inactivity," but watching for 

 prey. Under a stone it may be often seen with its head or pectoral 

 fins just exposed. "Its movements are quick; when driven from 

 shelter, it darts with the speed of an arrow under the nearest stone 

 or other suitable place of refuge." This peculiarity of lurking about 

 stones has given rise to various names by which it is known in differ- 

 ent parts of Sweden, as "Stensugare {stone-sucker)" and the like. 

 In dart-like movements the species resembles the little Perches of 

 America' known as Darters, and its American relatives indeed, to 

 some extent, have been confounded with them. But, aside from the 

 momentary darting movements, its actions are slow and laborious. 

 It has, according to E. Newman (1856), "no ])owcr of sustained 

 swimming, and never suspends itself in water like a true swimming 

 fish ; but it will occasionally make a forced march to the surface, 

 working its enormous pectorals with great vigour ami great labour. 

 Sometimes such efforts extend even to a tour of tiio "lobe or vessel 



