152 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MAILED CHEEKS. 



(Sp.20.) C.ffobio. The River Bullhead. (PL IV) 

 This well-known fish, sometimes called the Millers 

 Thumb, has its head nearly smooth, and the pre- 

 opercle armed with a single spine. It is a small 

 dark-coloured fish, from three to five inches long, 

 frequent in most of the clear streams, not of the 

 British Isles only, but also of Europe and Northern 

 Asia; according to different accounts, being com- 

 mon to Italy and Sweden, Greenland, and Siberia. 

 It is generally said to spawn in March, although in 

 the Seine it is usually in the three succeeding 

 months. It swims with great rapidity, and feeds 

 principally upon insects and small larva?. When 

 cooked, its flesh becomes red; and, as food, it is 

 regarded not only wholesome, but delicious. In 

 Switzerland, the children spear them with forks, as 

 they dash from the stones under which they hide. 



The Salt- water species, not of Britain only, but 

 also of other climes, have a general aspect so repel- 

 ling, and sometimes so hideous, as to have procured 

 for them many opprobrious names. These pecu- 

 liarities consist in their broad and low head, which 

 is armed with formidable spines, their wide gaping 

 mouth, and disagreeable colours : hence they have 

 been designated Sea-scorpions, Toads, Devils, and 

 Father-lashers, as if, says Cuvier, traits so hideous 

 indicated even the most atrocious vices. Little or 

 altogether unknown in the Mediterranean, they are 

 common in the northern seas; and in many re- 

 spects the three species resemble each other. They 

 are exceedingly voracious, swim with great swift- 



