FAMILY " WITH HAKD CHEEKS/ 



77 



in Beaumont and Fletcher's comedy of 'Wit at several 

 Weapons/ and in Merrett's ' Pinax/ The origin of the 

 name " Bullhead " is sufficiently obvious. 



The Bullhead seldom exceeds four or five inches in 

 length ; it begins to spawn about April, and continues 

 for several months, during which time the abdomen of the 

 female is frequently so distended with eggs as to present 

 almost the appearance of a cow's udder. 



Characteristics of the River Bullhead. Head large, depressed. Teeth 

 in both jaws and in fronj of vomer, small, sharp; none on bones of 

 the palate. Fore gill-cover armed with one spine j gill-rays 6. Body 

 naked, without scales. Two back-fins united by a membrane. Gene- 

 ral colour of body above dark brownish black ; sides lighter, with small 

 black spots ; under surface of head and belly white. Fins spotted. 



Fin-rays : D. 6 to 9+17 or 18 : P. 15 : V. 3 : A. 13 : C. 11. 



FABBICIUS' SEA-BULLHEAD. 



