FISHES — COTTIDAE — COTTOPSIS GtJLOSUS. 



63 



with soft, very small warts. The abdominal region, an area adjoining the base of the anal and 

 caudal, and the interscapular space in advance of the first dorsal, are perfectly smooth ; the 

 6kin covering the rest of the body is thickly studded with very small, subulate, acute spines 

 directed backwards. These spines are too minute to be seen with the naked eye, but will resist 

 the finger when drawn against their points. 



The ground color of the upper and lateral regions is yellowish brown, with black dots and 

 spots ; the head and fins being greyish white, with crowded spots and dots of black. The 

 abdomen and inferior region of the head are whitish, with crowded black dots. 



The species inhabit the fresh waters of Oregon and Washington Territories. 



List of specimens. 



2. COTTOPSIS GULOSUS, Grd. 



Spec. Char. — Origin of anterior dorsal fin situated opposite the insertion of the upper ray of pectorals. First ray of anal 

 fin placed under the fourth of second dorsal. Extremities of pectorals exteuding beyond the origin of the anal. Skin 

 generally smooth ; lateral line undergoing a sudden fall upon the peduncle of the tail. Reddish brown, spotted, and 

 transversally barred with black ; beneath unicolor. 



Stn. — CoUopsis gulosus, Geb. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 129. 



The most distinctive characteristic of this species consists in the general smoothness of the 

 skin and the interruption of the lateral line upon the peduncle of the tail, features which lead 

 to the genus Cotlus proper, from which, however, this species differs by the presence of a well 

 developed band of teeth ujjon the palatine bones. The general Aspect of grown specimens is 

 rather contracted, thickish and short ; the head is especially thick, and constitutes the third of 

 the length, the caudal fin excluded. The body is compressed, as deep as broad upon the 

 insertion of the pectorals, and deeper than broad posteriorly. The upper surface of the head is 

 flattened, the snout slightly declivous and rounded anteriorly. The mouth is broad, the jaws 

 equal, and the lips conspicuously developed. The eye is rather small and circular, as usual 

 near the upper surface of the head, and contained five times in the length of the sides of the 

 head. The upper preopercular spine, the largest, is visible externally, conical, acute, and 

 directed backwards and upwards, whilst two much smaller ones, situated upon the inferior limb 

 of the same bone, are directed downwards and forwards. The branchiostegal rays are all well 

 developed ; the widsth of the isthmus enters about three times in the distance between it and 

 the extremity of tne lower jaw. 



The origin and relative position of the fins have nothing peculiarly different from C. asper. 

 The extremity of the posterior rays of both the second dorsal and anal, however, extend nearly 



