344 PISCES (OSSEI) ACANTHOPT. [COTTUS. 



with a soft naked skin : preopercle only, with a single curved spine at its 

 posterior angle, the point turning upwards ; opercle terminating behind 

 in a flat blunt point: lateral line nearly straight, its course at one-third 

 of the depth ; formed by a row of small lozenge shaped elevations of the 

 skin, from thirty to thirty-five in number : first dorsal commencing a little 

 behind the base of the pectorals ; all the rays somewhat soft and flexible, 

 but not articulated : second dorsal twice as high, and nearly three times 

 as long, as the first ; the membrane continuous from one to the other ; 

 most of the rays simple, but all flexible and articulated : anal com- 

 mencing a little more backward than the second dorsal, and not ex- 

 tending so far towards the caudal : this last rounded : pectorals broad 

 and rounded, equalling one-fourth of the entire length ; most of the rays 

 simple, but all articulated : ventrals immediately under them, the first or 

 spinous ray enveloped in a membrane, which causes it to appear longer 

 and thicker than it really is: 



D. 616; A. 13; C. 11, and some short ones; P. 14; V. 1/3. 



Number of vertebrae thirty-two. (Colours.) Brownish gray, occasionally 

 marbled with yellow and dusky spots; belly silvery white: fins barred 

 and varied with brown. . 



Common in fresh waters, especially clear streams which have a gra- 

 velly bottom. Lurks under stones, and swims with great rapidity. Swells 

 out its head when in danger by raising the gill-covers, thus causing the 

 former to appear broader than it is. Food, principally aquatic insects. 

 Spawns in March and April, according to Bloch and some other authors ; 

 but, according to Cuvier, during the months of May, June, and July. 

 Has no air-bladder. 



17- C. Scorpius, Bl. (Sea- Scorpion, or Father-lasher.) 

 Two erect spines before the eyes : preopercle with three 

 spines ; the first barely one-fifth the length of the head. 



C. Scorpius, Bloch, Ichth. pi. 4(h Don. Brit. Fish. vol. n. pi. 35. 

 Flem. Brit. An. p. 216. Sea-Scorpion, Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. 

 p. 60. Le Chaboisseau de mer commun, Cuv. et Vol. Poiss. 

 torn. iv. p. 117. 



LENGTH. Rarely exceeds eight or nine inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Head less depressed than in the last species ; its 

 breadth not much more than half its length : eyes larger in proportion, 

 situate a little nearer the nose than the nape ; the space between them 

 concave, and not equal to their diameter: mouth large; jaws equal: in 

 front of the space between the eyes, two small, but sharp, erect spines : 

 at the posterior part of the upper margin of the orbit a small tubercle, 

 more or less pointed, whence proceeds a slightly elevated crest on each 

 side of the occiput towards the nape, terminating there in another 

 tubercle; the space included between these ridges is of an oblong form 

 approaching to square : preopercle terminating behind in a strong sharp 

 spine directed backwards and a little upwards, its length barely one-fifth 

 that of the head ; beneath it one smaller ; and at the anterior extremity 

 of the lower margin a third still smaller, directed downwards and some- 

 what forwards : opercle likewise ending in a sharp spine : subopercle 

 with two small spines, one directed backwards and the other downwards : 

 scapulars and clavicles also each with a single spine directed backwards : 

 first dorsal commencing nearly in a line with the base of the pectorals : 

 second immediately behind it; somewhat longer as well as higher; this 



