82 



•with four (ov five) brown cross-bands; along the base of the 

 jinal fin is a series of round yellowish spots. Length, 2^ in- 

 ches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 27; P. 14; V. 2; A. 15; C. ]5. 



'0. quadri/asciahiSj Guenther, III, p. 229. 



Pliolis quadrifasciatus, Wood, Journ. Acad. Kat. Sc. 

 Phila., lY, p. 2*82, pi. 17, fig. 1. 



CJiasmodes quadrifasciatus, Cuv. & Val. XI, }». 298. 



Found in St. Mary's Eiver, and near tlie mouth of the Poto- 

 inac. 



Acad. Coll. 



XV— BATRACHIDffi. 



BATRACHUS, Bocli. Schn. 



B. lau. 



Oyster Fish, or Common Toad Fish. 



Body thick, rounded before, compressed behind. Head 

 Tery broad, depressed, as wide as long, with full cheeks^ 

 appearing as if* bloated. Mouth enormous ; eyes prominent 

 and. close together. Skin without scales, covered with a 

 thick coat of slime. Color light brown, clouded and mottled 

 "with dark brown and olive-green ; belly flesh-colored. — 

 Length, G to 12 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 3.26; P. 18; V. 3: A. 21; C. 15. 



B. tail, Guenther III, p. 167. 



Gadus tau, L. Syst. I, p. 440. 



Lophius hu/o, Mitcli. Lit. & Phil. Trans. New York, I, 

 p. 463. 



Bairadwides vernullus, Lesueur, Mem. Mus. V, ]). 157;, 

 pi. 17. 



Batraohu6 variegatus, Storer, Rep. Massach. p. 74. 



— tau, Cuv, & Val. XII, p. 478; DeKay, New York 

 JFa^na, Fishes, p. 168, pi. 28, fig. 86. 



— celatus, DeKay, 1. c. p. 170, pi. 50, fig. 161, (young.) 

 Lives in the mud of the oyster regions of Chesapeake Bay, 



around the mouth of the Potomac River and elsewhere in 

 salt water. 



Acad. Coll. S. I. 



