III. COTTOIDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 37 



2. CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN COTTI. 



Before entering into the descriptions of the species of this continent, a rapid 

 glance at their chronological history is deemed here in place. 



The most ancient document which exists relating to this subject, as far as we 

 know, goes as far back as the first half of the eighteenth century. 1 



" The Rirbuts, or Millers Th umbs" says the writer, " are the very same here as those 

 in England and other parts of Europe. They are about three or four inches long, 

 have no scales, and the back is yellowish, with a few little black spots. The head 

 is large, and the mouth wide and round. Out of the fins grow several sharp 

 prickles or thorns, especially in those near the head. These fishes are very plenty 

 in rivers and creeks, near the sea shore, where they feed on watery insects (p. 242)." 

 The figure given of the fish is insignificant, and can be of no use in determining 

 its characters. We cannot help thinking that the individuals mentioned as occur- 

 ring in creeks near the sea shore are the young of Acantliocoilus virginiamis, which 

 when three or four inches long, have a striking superficial resemblance with Cottus 

 proper. For, the Cotti or Millers Thumbs, keep off the sea shore and salt waters 

 generally. As to the individuals found in rivers, we believe that they belong to 

 the genus Cottus. But the species to which they must be referred we are not pre- 

 pared to decide, as we have had no specimen on hand for direct comparisons. That 

 they are different from the English ones, cannot be doubted for a moment, judging 

 the question ci -priori, and comparatively with the facts with which the study of 

 those fishes has made us acquainted. They will have to be carefully compared 

 first with C. meridionalis from the tributaries of James River, especially if the 

 ventrals should be composed of four jointed and soft rays. 



Then a century elapses, during which nothing is done towards the natural 

 history of the American Cotti, when in 1836, an English naturalist and traveler, 

 Dr. Richardson, gave to the scientific world the descriptions of two species, his G. 

 cognatus and C. asper. The latter constitutes now our genus Cottopsis after various 

 unsuccessful attempts to refer it to a proper genus. (See Chap. IV.) 



In 1837, Mr. Heckel, Professor at Vienna (Austria), made us acquainted with 

 a species which the Museum of Vienna possessed in its galleries, labeled " New 

 York," by calling it Coitus gracilis. 



In 1840, Prof. S. S. Haldeman had distinguished another species, under the name 

 of C. viscosus, inhabiting eastern Pennsylvania. 



In 1842, Dr. James E. Dekay described and figured under the name of Uranidea 

 quiescens, the C. gracilis of Heckel, not knowing that a description of this species 

 had already been published. 



1 BRICKWELL (John). The natural history of North Carolina with an account of the trade, manners 

 and customs of the Christians and Indians, inhabitants. Illustrated with copper plates, whereon are curi- 

 ously engraved the map of the country, several strange beasts, birds, fishes, snakes, insects, trees, and plants, 

 &c. Dublin, 1737, small 8vo. 



