ZOOLOGY. 353 



is white and firm when cooked, and of delicate flavor, although somewhat dry. They enter the 

 mouths of small creeks at high water, retreating with the tide. As elsewhere, they are bold, 

 greedy feeders, and give the angler much annoyance when fishing for other and better fish by 

 constantly nibbling off his bait and frequently insisting upon being hooked. I have taken them 

 with ordinary clam bait, and also with the revolving spoon. The Indians generally procure 

 them by spearing. A fish of this species, obtained by me at Fort Steilacoom in January, 1854, 

 presented the following appearance: Upper parts of head and back yellowish brown, tinged 

 with green; belly and lower parts white; lateral line yellowish white; pectoral fins brownish 

 olive, tipped with very pale yellow, and crossed with four bars of bright yellow; ventral and 

 anal fins yellowish white; caudal olive, crossed with three partial yellowish bands. The colors 

 of this individual are a fair sample of those generally found in the species. 



ASPICOTTUS BISON, Grd. 



Buffalo Sculpin. 



PLATE XV, FIG. 1. 



Sp. CH. The posterior extremity of the maxillary extends to a vertical line drawn midway between the posterior edge of 

 the pupil and the posterior rim of the orbit. The scutellae constituting the lateral line are crowded, vertically elongated. 

 Upper regions dark greenish brown, mottled or blotched with black. Beneath dull yellowish, with meandric dark lines under 

 the head and throat. Ventrals uniform yellowish wjiite; other fins mottled yellow and black. 



SYN. dspicottus bison, GRD. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 130; &, VIII, 1856, 133. IB. Gen. Rep. Fishes, p. 66. 

 Clypeocottus rcbustus, AYRES, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sc. I, 1854, 11. 



This toad-fish or sculpin is not uncommon in the waters of Puget Sound. In habits it 

 resembles the preceding species, but seems to confine itself more to deep water. A specimen, 

 caught in January, 1854, had twelve ovoid brownish lilac spots on the iris, which was itself 

 dingy white. 



ARTEDIUS NOTOSPILOTUS, Grd. 



Ayres Sculpin. 



PLATE XXII b, FIGS. 5 & 6. 



SP. CH. Surface of head sub-tuberculous and scaly. Preopercle armed with a flat tricuspid spine. Anterior margin of first 

 dorsal situated in advance of the beginning of the dorsal band of scales, which is broad, and extends from the thoracic arch to 

 near the terminus of the base of the second dorsal. Olivaceous, with a series of saddle-like black patches. Abdomen dull yellow 

 or white. 



SYN. drtedius notospilotus, GRD. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 134; &, in Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. VI, 1857; PL 



xxiv, figs. 5 and 6. IB. Gen. Rep. Fishes, p. 71. 

 Calycilepidotus lateralis, AYRES, Proc. Cal, A cad. Nat. Sc. I, 1855, 77 



But a single specimen of this fish was obtained by me. It was taken by Lieutenant Murden, 

 of the United States revenue service, from Puget Sound, near Port Townsend. No notes were 

 made of its habits. 



ZANIOLEPIS LATIPINNIS, Grd. 



Rough Sculpin. 



PLATE XVII, FIGS. 5 & 6. 



Sp. CH. Three small spines upon the convexity of the preopercle. First dorsal much longer than the second, with its two 

 anterior rays protracted beyond the others. Anal fin longer than the soft dorsal, and provided with three spinous rays. Upper 



45 Q 



