288 



PEHCOIDES. 



SO are the fins ; stiiF rayed, and the body marbled 

 over with yellow and smoky patches, w^hich, in 

 reality, are beautiful. There are two spines on the 

 gill cover, and two short ones, also, near the eyes. 

 It never appears very active, but lies on the shoal 

 bottom, and as the tide ebbs and flows, seems to 

 take advantage of it. 



THE SCULPIN. 



The fins, when in that quiet state, are fully 

 spread, and should a baited hook be passed within 

 a few feet they leisurely swallow it down. They 

 are the pest of saltwater fishermen. As food they 

 are not esteemed. They abound in Europe, New- 

 foundland and Greenland ; they are able to main- 

 tain a long combat with a small shark by bristling 

 up their spines. 



Armed Bullhead, — Coitus Cataphactus. Nei- 

 ther does this difl^er so much from the others as 

 not to be instantly recognised as a sculpin. If the 



