ISO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



As diaphanus is more or less an anadromous form but capable of 

 living permanently in fresh water, its general distribution tliroughout 

 the maritime provinces and (Jaspé was to be expected. 



COTTlDJv 



Fresh-water sculpins are diminutive fish, alTecting lakes, rivers, and 

 esi)ecially rocky mountain streams, where they skulk aljout under cover 

 of bottom objects, darting quickly across interspaces and disappearing 

 suddenly, sliowing in their rapid movements fear of lurking enemies. 

 Their food is found adhering to pebbles and rocks or creeping on the 

 bottom, and consists largely of the aquatic larvœ of insects, Crustacea, 

 and worms. They also destroy immense quantities of trout spawn. 

 Their habits and coloration make them hard to detect ; but if a few 

 stones in the bed of a stream be cautiously turned over, the observer 

 will be often surprised at the number of these little denizens found 

 skulking beneath. Like other small fresh-water fishes of great power of 

 adaptation to environment, these little cottoids seldom exhibit much 

 stability in what are usually regarded as specific characters, so that the 

 classification of the members of the genus Uranidea, to which nearly all 

 our forms belong, consists largely in the recognition of certain extremes 

 of variation. Hence the description and synonymy of this genus are 

 very much confused. A large number of species and a larger number of 

 varieties, have been described by various authors, especially by Girard 

 in the "Monograph of the Fresh-water Cottoids," but there is little 

 unanimity among them, and the whole genus needs a thorough revision. 



Uranidea gracilis, Putnam. ^Miller's Thumb. 



Metapedia Eiver and Nouvelle Eiver, P.Q. This species was first 

 reported from the Maritime Provinces by the writer in 1896. who col- 

 lected it from Green Kiver, Victoria Co., N.B., and had it identified by 

 Dr. B. E. Bean, of tlie Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 



U. holeoides (Girard). Jordan. ^Miller's Tluimb. 



Metapedia River, witli tlie last from wliich it is hardly separate. 

 Miramichi, Restigouche and St. John rivers, N.B. 



U. richardsoni, Ag. Miller's Thumb. 



In all the Gaspe rivers, except those discharging into Gaspé Basin. 

 Miramichi and Restigouche, New Brunswick. Mos^t of our northern 

 miller's tliumbs belong to this species, which should more properly be 



