698 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 
by the intervention of the plate-like pterygials, of which one, 
two, or three are in contact with the clavicle; the coracoid more 
or less reduced. Ventral fins close together, with 1 spine and 
2 to 5 soft rays (absent in Hreunias). Spinous dorsal usually 
shorter than the soft, sometimes quite indistinct ; anal without 
spines. Body naked, partially scaly, or with prickles or bony plates. 
Mostly small carnivorous fishes, the largest (Scorpaenichthys) 
growing to about 5 feet. Some species inhabit fresh waters, but 
the majority are marine, a few descending to great depths. 
Nearly all are from the northern regions, but a genus allied to 
Cottus (Sclerocottus) is from South Georgia, in the Antarctic 
region. Fossil Cottidae are known from the Upper Eocene and 
Miocene (ocottus, Lepidocottus), and are distinguished from the 
modern forms in the smaller number of vertebrae (24 or 26 
instead of 30 to 50). At least 220 species are known. Principal 
genera : Jordania, Scorpaenichthys, Icelus, Triglops, Cottus, Cottun- 
culus, Blepsias, Pseudoblennius, Hemitripterus, Synchirus, Asce- 
lichthys, Psychrolutes, Ereunias. The little freshwater “ Miller’s 
Thumb” (Cottus gobio) and the larger marine “ Bull-heads” (C. 
bubalis and C. scorpius) are the most familiar British representa- 
tives of this family. The eggs are deposited on stones, weeds, or 
other submerged objects, or in a sort of nest, and are guarded by 
the male, which in most species is distinguished by a large genital 
papilla; this, in some forms, acts as an intromittent organ. 
Fam. 6. Cyclopteridae.—Very closely related to the pre- 
ceding, with which they are connected through Psychrolutes, and it 
is even doubtful whether they deserve to be separated from them. 
The only important distinctive characters reside in the structure 
of the ventrals, which, if present (absent in. Paraliparis, a close 
ally of Ziparis), are united to form a sucking disk, and the small 
size of the gill-cleft. The body is short, tumid, tadpole-like, 
naked or tubercular; the spinous dorsal, if present, is short. 
Vertebrae 28 to 60, the skeleton feebly ossified.' 
Sluggish fishes, feeding on small animals and plants, from 
the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Arctic and 
Antarctic seas, many descending to great depths (1800 fathoms). 
About fifty species are distinguished. Principal genera: Cyclo- 
pterus, Cyclopterichthys, Liparops, Liparis, Careproctus, Paraliparis. 
1 The anatomy and external characters of these fishes have been fully mono- 
graphed by S, Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. xiv. No, 2, 1892. 
