352 ZOOLOGY. 



These small sculpins are very abundant in the small fresh water streams emptying into 

 Puget Sound. I have caught them from streams communicating with the sea, but still securely 

 interrupted by high mill-dams. The average size of the species, as found near Fort Steila- 

 coom, is about three inches in length, having colors quite dark. Those caught on the 

 Columbia, 200 miles above its mouth, are nearly twice as large and show much yellow in their 

 coloration. They are readily taken by hook and line, and are easily recognized by their rough 

 prickly skins. I have not heard of their being eaten, but doubt not that, were they larger, 

 they might be found equal in nutritious qualities to the sculpins of salt water. 



OLIGOCOTTUS MACULOSUS, Grd. 



Sp. CH. Head sub-conical. Mouth moderately cleft; posterior extremity of maxillary extending to a vertical line 

 intersecting the pupil. A stoutish bicuspid process on the convexity of the preopercle. Two acute nasal spines. Dorsal fins 

 contiguous. Origin of anal in advance of the anterior margin of second dorsal. Yellowish brown above, mottled or variegated 

 with blackish ; along the dorsal region a series of blotches of a deeper hue ; lower half of sides vermiculated. Abdomen of a 

 bright saffron hue in the male . Inferior surface of head with traces of black markings ; throat and abdomen unicolor, as also 

 the ventrals and anal. Dorsals, caudals, and pectorals transversely barred. 



SIN. Oligocottus maculosus, GRD.Proc. Acad.Nat. Sc. Philad.VIII, 1856, 133; and, Journ. Bost.Soc. Nat. Hist. VI, 1857, 

 Plate xxiv, fig. 7. IBID. Gen. Rep. Fishes, 1858, 56. 



Specimens of this fish were obtained at Puget Sound. No notes were made of its habits, 

 which are probably much like those of the other sculpins. 



LEPTOCOTTUS ARMATUS, Grd. 



Slender Scnlpin. 



PLATE XY, FIG. 2. 



Leplocottus armatus, GRD. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 131, 145; VIII, 1856, 133. IBID. Gen. Rep. 



Fishes, p. 60. 



Jlcanlhocoltus inermis, ATRES, MS. 



SP. CH. Head much depressed; upper jaw longer than the lower; posterior extremity of maxillary extending some 

 what beyond the vertical of the posterior rim of the orbit. A preopercular process provided with three spines directed 

 upwards. Blackish brown above ; whitish beneath ; dorsals, caudal, and pectorals yellowish, barred with black ; anterior 

 dorsal with a black spot posteriorly. Ventrals and anal whitish. (The colors given are those of fish altered by alcohol. 

 See below.) 



The colors of this species are much changed by alcohol. When fresh they are as follows: 

 Back olive, (nearly black in dark rivers,) or nearly yellow, sometimes, when pale, mottled with 

 grayish and black, with three darker bars across body. Sides silvery, with purplish and rosy 

 tints; belly dull white; pectoral fins white at base, becoming yellow towards the tip and barred 

 with black; tail pale grayish, with olive bars; iris bright bronze gold color. The largest 

 specimens are commonly the palest. 



This fish inhabits Shoalwater bay and its rivers in abundance, and bites readily at the hook 

 with almost any bait and at all seasons, but is rarely taken for food where much better fish are 

 so abundant. 



The young fish, from two to four inches long, run in shoals over the mud flats at the edge 

 of the advancing tide, supplying food for the large flocks of gulls, &c., which are to be seen 

 on the shore. These little ones are so much darker in color as to seem at first distinct 

 species. C. 



Quite abundant at Puget Sound, where they are not unfrequently eaten by the Indians. 

 The heads are cut off and thrown away and the rest of the body generally roasted. The flesh 



