304  Storer’s Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 
GENUS II. DACTYLOPTERUS, Lacep. 
The rays under the pectorals are numerous and large ; and instead of being 
free, as in the preceding genera, they are united by a membrane into a super- 
numerary fin, larger than the fish itself, and which supports them in the air for 
some length of time. Their muzzle, which is very short, appears to be cleft 
like the lips of a hare ; their mouth is situated underneath ; there are, in the Jaws 
only, certain rounded teeth, arranged like pavement ; their head is flat, rectan- 
gular, and granulated ; their preoperculum is terminated by a long and strong 
spine. All their scales are carinated. 
1. Dactylopterus volitans, L. 
Light brown above, with irregular dark spots; beneath, of a flesh-color. The larger pec- 
torals blackish, with bluish spots. ‘Two flexible filaments at the side of each other, in 
front of the first dorsal. A short, stout triangular spine between the dorsal fins. 
D. 2,4,1-8. P.6-30. V.1-4. A.6. C. 103. Length, 6 inches. 
Newfoundland, Cuv. Massachusetts, Srorer. Connecticut, Linsney. New York, 
Mrrenrun, Decay. Gulf of Mexico, Parra. Caribbean Sea, Cuv- 
Trigla volitans, Flying Gurnard, L., Saaw’s Gen. Zodl., rv. p. 622, pl. 91. 
Morcielago, Parra, p. 25, pl. 14. 
ornare PES CIERES Mrrenitt, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. pl. 4, fig. 10. 
a Suppl. Amer. Month. Mag., 11. p. 323, 
Le Dactyloptére commun, DAMON os Cuv. et Vat., rv. p. 117. 
GRIFFITH’s cam, x. p. 133. 
a Ricu., Fauna Boreal Americ., rt. p. 40. 
= 3 Witson, Encyclop. Brit., Art. Ichthyology, p. 173 
ig 4 Sea-Swallow, Dexay’s Report, p. 49, pl. 17, fig. 46. 
GENUS IV. COTTUS, Liv. 
Head large, depressed ; teeth in both jaws and in front of the vomer, small, 
sharp, none on the ‘palatine bones ; preoperculum or operculum armed with 
spines, sometimes both ; branchiostegous rays, six ; gill-openings large ; body 
attenuated, naked, without scales ; two dorsal fins, distinct, or very slightly 
connected ; ventral fins small. 
1. Cottus gobio, L. 
Body very slimy ; yellowish, clouded with black; the first dorsal fin edged with a very 
narrow line of orange. Snout to first dorsal ray 0.84, and from here to the last dorsal ray 
1.5. The anus is midway between the snout and the base of the caudal rays. The lateral 
line is straight from the middle of the first dorsal fin backwards. 
