264 JAPANESE BULLHEAD. 



body is octagonal, covered with a number of bony 

 crusts, and divided into several compartments, the 

 ends of which project into a sharp point, and form 

 several echinated lines along the back and the 

 sides from head to tail : the first dorsal fin usually 

 consists of six spiny rays ; the second is placed im- 

 mediately behind it, and consists of seven soft rays : 

 the pectoral are broad and rounded, and are com- 

 posed of fifteen rays. This fish is an inhabitant 

 of the European seas, and is found in plenty on 

 our own coasts, living on worms and water-insects, 

 and spawning in the month of May. Its colour is 

 brown above, and whitish beneath : and on the 

 back are three or four blackish transverse bands. 



JAPANESE BULLHEAD. 



Cottus Japonicus. C. fusco-flavescens, corpore loricato, cirris 



nullis. 



Yellowish brown Bullhead, with mailed body and without cirri. 

 Cottus Japonicus. C. corpore octogono, squamis osseis aculcatis 



loricatOf cirris nullis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 1213. 



THIS, which is a native of the seas about the 

 Kurile islands, was first described by Dr. Pallas, 

 who' informs us that it grows to the length of about 

 twelve inches, and is of a yellowish white colour, 

 dusky on the back: its general habit resembles 

 that of the mailed Bullhead, being, like that 

 species, covered with a bony armature, disposed 

 into eight prominent lines along the body, but is 

 destitute of the cirri or beards under the throat : 



