GENERA AND SPECIES. 93 



48. gobio, MILLER'S THUMB. No horns ; spines on gill-covers 



less than 7 ; ventrals with a spine and 4 rays. 



49. scorpius, FATHER LASHER. No horns ; no spiny ridge on occiput ; 



spines on gill-covers over 7 in number, stout and short ; 

 ventrals with 2 rays and no spine. 



50. bubalis, LONG-SPINED COTTUS. No horns ; a spiny ridge on 



occiput ; spines on gill-covers over 7 in number, slender 

 and long ; ventrals with a spine and 3 rays. 



The Four-horned Cottus has two dorsals, the first lower than the 

 second. In the first are 9 spines, in the second 14 rays ; the anal 

 having 13 to 15 rays, the caudal 13, the pectorals 17, and the 

 ventrals a spine and 3 rays. The anal is placed under the second 

 dorsal; the caudal is rounded, and the pectorals are broad and 

 reach to the end of the first dorsal. There are no scales. The 

 mouth extends to the middle of the eye. The so-called horns are 

 really rough tubercles. In colour this species is greyish brown 

 above, with more or less red and yellow, and whitish below ; in 

 length it averages about a foot. As might be expected from its large 

 fins, it is a rapid swimmer, and it lives among seaweed in ambush 

 for its prey. 



The Miller's Thumb has from 6 to 8 spines in its first dorsal, and 

 from 16 to 18 rays in its second ; in its anal are from 12 to 14 rays, in 

 its caudal n ; in its pectorals are 14, and in its ventrals are a spine 

 and 4 rays. The first dorsal is not half the height of the second ; 

 the second extends further back than the anal, but begins above it, 

 the pectorals just reaching to a line joining the fore ends of their 

 bases. The head is broad and flat, the mouth wide but shallow 

 and reaching to the middle of the eye. There are usually only 

 4 spines, but occasionally there are 6. In colour this bullhead is 

 dusky yellow above and whitish underneath. It is 3 inches long, 

 and shelters among the gravel in clear running water, being 

 especially partial to mill-streams. It is not a vegetarian, but feeds 

 on anything animal in a small way. 



The Father Lasher, otherwise the Short-spined Cottus, has 9 or 10 

 spines in its first dorsal, and from 13 to 17 rays in the second ; in the 

 anal there are 9 to 14, in the caudal there are n ; in the pectorals 

 16 or 17, in the ventrals only 2. The dorsals are equal in height, the 

 anal is shorter than the second dorsal, the pectorals overlapping 

 the front of the second dorsal, but not reaching that of the anal ; and 

 the tail is cut square. There are spines, often 20 in number, dis- 

 tributed mostly over the gill covers and scapulars. The head is wide 

 and flat, and the mouth reaches to the eye. This northern sea-fish 

 is common on our coasts. It is usually 4 or 5 inches long, but has 

 been known to attain 15 inches. In colour it is mottled grey above 

 and yellowish below, the males having white spots on the under 

 parts. When caught, the Father Lasher thrills his throat as if 

 producing some sound that might be audible under water. 



The Loag-spined Cottus has the dorsals of the same height and 

 length, and the anal of similar length, but not quite so high. In the 

 first dorsal there are 8 spines, in the second n or 12 rays, in the 

 anal there are 9 rays, in the caudal 10, in the pectorals 16, in the 

 ventrals a spine and 3 rays. The fins are all comparatively large ; 



