698 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



Classifica- stega. It inhabits the seas of Asia, and differs from the 

 tion of g enus Coryphsena principally in the form of the gill 

 v^*^ opening. 



GENUS LXXXIX. ASPIDOPHORUS. Fogge. 



Pogge. Body and tail covered with a scaly coat of mail ; two 



fins on the back. 



This genus was first instituted by Scopoli, and after- 

 wards adopted by La Cepede for the reception of two 

 species included in the genus Cottus. The first is the 

 Coitus cataphracttis of Linnaeus, common in the Euro- 

 pean seas ; and the second is the C.japonicus of Gme- 

 lin, which was first described by Pallas as a native of 

 the seas about the Kurile islands. It is destitute of the 

 cirri or beard under the throat, and from that circum- 

 stance ought perhaps to be referred to another genus. 



GENUS XC. AspiDomonoiDES. 



Body and tail armed with a coat of mail ; one dorsal 

 fin ; rays of the ventral fins fewer than four. 



This genus bears a very close resemblance to the pre- 

 ceding, from which it is principally distinguished by 

 the union of the two dorsal fins. The only species it 

 contains is the Cottus monopterygius of Gmelin, a fish 

 which inhabits the coast of Tranquebar. 



GENUS XCI. COTTUS. Bull head. 



Bull-head. Head larger than the body ; form approaching coni- 

 cal ; two dorsal fins ; spines and tubercles on the head or 

 gill lid ; ventral fins with more than three rays. 



La Cepede describes nine species, some of which are 

 used as food. 



The grunting bull-head, Cottus gruniens, a native of 

 the American and Indian seas, is considered as esculent 

 food. The liver, however, is said to possess noxious 

 qualities. When first taken from the water, this fish 

 utters a sound, in some degree resembling the grunting 

 of a pig, and produced by the sudden expulsion of air from 

 the internal cavities through the gill covers and mouth. 



The Cottus insidiator, a native of the Arabian seas, 

 is said to bury itself in the sand, and wait the approach 

 of its prey. When the small fish have approached suf- 

 ficiently near, it then darts out upon them with consi- 

 derable velocity. The C. scorpius, which in this coun- 

 try is despised, is eagerly sought after as food by the 

 inhabitants of Greenland. From the liver they likewise 

 extract an oil. This animal is very vivacious. It can 

 close the gill opening so closely, by means of the lid, 

 as to prevent the atmosphere from drying the gills, and 

 consequently obstructing respiration. 



GENUS XCII. SCORP^ENA. 



Head covered with spines or protuberances ; desti- 

 tute of small scales ; one dorsal fin. 



The species of this genus, sixteen in number, are dis- 

 tributed into two sections from circumstances connected 

 with the beard. They have all a very uncouth appear- 

 ance, and they are armed with formidable spines. The 

 S. horrida, says Shaw, resembles rather some imaginary 

 monster of deformity than any regular production of 

 nature. The head is very large, perfectly abrupt in 

 front, and marked by numerous tubercles, depressions, 

 and spines. On the top is a semilunar cavity; the 

 mouth opens from the upper part, and is large, and of 

 ;i shape resembling a horse shoe. It is a native of the 

 Indian seas. The S. porcus is the most common Euro- 

 pean species. It is found plentifully in the Mediter- 

 ranean, where it lurks among the s'ea weeds, and, as 

 opportunity offers, darts upon its prey. When seized 

 by any stronger animal, it twists itself violently, and, 

 erecting its strong spines, makes a vigorous resistance. 

 Wine, in which this fish was suffered to die, was esteem- 

 ed by the ancients as a salutary medicine. The S. scrofa, 



which is found in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, is Classifica. 

 said to prey not only on the smaller fishes, but on the t! ? n of 

 aquatic birds as they swim on the surface. The S. an- .J^i s '' es ]_^ 

 tennata, remarkable for two long tentacula, surrounded 

 by several fibrous brown bars seated immediately above 

 the eyes, is a native of Amboyna, and its flesh is said 

 to be exquisite. In the S. volitans, the pectoral fins 

 are so large, that the fish can fly for a short distance. 

 It is the Gasterosteus volitans of Linnaeus. 



GENUS XCIII. SCOMBEHOMORUS. 



One dorsal fin ; spurious fins above and below, in 

 front of the caudal fin ; no separate spines in front of 

 the dorsal fin. 



The S. plumierii is the only species of the genus, and 

 is a native of Martinique. It was described by La Ce- 

 pede from the drawings of Plumier. 



GENUS XCIV. GASTEROSTEUS. Slic/cle-back. 



One dorsal fin; ~ separate spines in front of the dorsal Stickleback. 

 fin ; tail carinated laterally ; one or more spinous rays 

 to each ventral fin. 



The species of this genus are natives of Europe. The 

 G. aculeatus is common in rivers. It is sometimes found 

 in such plenty as to be employed as manure, an oil 

 excellent for burning may be expressed from the body. 

 The other species are natives of the seas. They are 

 armed with sharp spines on the back, so that few fish 

 venture to seize them. 



GENUS XCV. CENTROPODUS. 



Two dorsal fins ; ventral fins with one spine, and 

 five or six small articulated rays. 



This genus, from Ken-r^ox, aculeus, and a-a?, pes, was 

 created by La Cepede for the reception of one species, 

 C. rhombeus, observed by Forskael in the Red Sea. 



GENUS XCVI. CENTROGASTER. 



Ventral fins with four spines and six articulated rays. 



This genus contains two species which inhabit the 

 sea of Japan. They were first described by Houttuyn 

 in the Act. Haerl. vol. xx. 2. p. 334:. No. 22. 



GENUS XCVII. CENTRONOTUS. 



One dorsal fin ; ventral fins with at least four rays ; 

 a longitudinal crest on each side of the tail, and two 

 spines in front of the anal fin. 



This genus, formed from Ke>Tgo>, aculeus, and van;, 

 dorsum, contains eleven species. They are all of a 

 small size. The most remarkable among these is the 

 pilot fish of Willoughby, the C. conductor of La Cepede, Pilot fish, 

 which has often excited the astonishment of observers. 

 It follows vessels to feed on the substances thrown 

 overboard; and is generally seen in company with the 

 shark, which in the opinion of some itconducts toils prey. 



GENUS XCVIII. LEPFSACANTHUS. 



Scales of the back large, ciliated, and terminated by 

 a spine; the gill lid denticulated behind. 



This genus, from Aun;, squama, and axaiSx, spina, was 

 instituted by La Cepede. It contains only one species 

 from Japan, first described by Houttuyn. 



GENUS XCIX. CEPHALACANTHUS. 



Two long denticulated spines on each side of the head 

 behind. 



This genus, formed from KspaAu, cnput, and ax>6x, 

 spina, was instituted by La Cepede. It contains only 

 one species, the Gasterosteus spinarella of other natural- 

 ists. It differs from the Sticklebacks in wanting thespines 

 on the back. It is a small fish, and a native of India. 



GENUS C. DACTYLOFTERUS. 



One small fin, consisting of rays connected by a 

 membrane near each pectoral fin. 



