THE MILLER'S THUMB. 85 



specimens. There are eight vertebrae in the abdomen and eleven in the tail. Some of the anterior 

 and posterior vertebrae are elongated. 



FAMILY XXIX. COTTINA. 



The family Cottina comprises the Gurnards and about eighteen genera of allied fishes, some of 

 which have the body naked, while in others it is covered with ordinary scales, and iri a few defended 

 with scales like bony plates. 



THE MILLER'S THUMB, OR RIVER BULLHEAD.* 



This little fish grows to a length of three or four inches, and derives its name of Bullhead 

 from the head being large and broad and swollen at the cheeks. It is white on the underside, 

 but brownish-black above, with uiall black spots and bands over the back and sides. It feeds on 

 the larvae of water-insects and the eggs and young of other fishes, and is readily caught with a small 

 red worm. It is extremely active, darting about from place to place, and undergoes many changes of 

 colour under exertion and after feeding. It is found not only in all the sandy and gravelly streams 

 of Great Britain, where it hides itself under stones, but throughout Europe and in the north of 

 Asia. Its skin is slippery. The female is said to carry the eggs on her breast after spawning, but 

 some writers state that after depositing them in the gravel she broods over them till they are hatched. 

 Cuvier found the Bullhead to be an excellent bait for the Eel. Yarrell, quoting James Wilson, states 

 that the flesh of the Bullhead becomes red when boiled, and is excellent eating. 



THE SEA SCORPION, OR FATHER LASHER.f 



This is a marine Bullhead found on the coasts of Britain and the German Ocean ; it is also met 

 with in the Baltic. It has the head armed with spines, two above the snout, four on the crown, 

 and three on the pre-opercular bones. The skin is usually naked, and black with grey marblings. 



SEA-SCORPIOX. 



The males are more richly coloured. It lives on the smaller Crustacea, and is often caught in tte 

 shrimp-nets. It is commonly found near to shore, where it is often left uncovered. The species enters 

 estuaries and sometimes ascends rivers. The Coitus bubalis closely resembles the Father Lasher, and like 

 that species grows to a length of four or five inches, but it is more slender, has four opercular spines, 



Cottus golio. 



t Cottus scorpius. 



