252 THE BULL-HEAD. 



THE odd-looking fish, which is known by the name of the THREE-LOBED BLEPSIAS, is 

 one of those species to which the ancient naturalists had affixed certain names without any 

 apparent motive for so doing. There is no particular meaning in the word, and the sum 

 of information obtainable from lexicons is, that it signifies a certain fish. 



The members of this genus are found on the coasts of Kamschatka, and some fine 

 specimens in the British Museum were obtained from the New Orcas Islands, in the Gulf 



THREE-LOBED BLEPSIAS. BUixias cirrhosis 



of Georgia. This species is not very common, but may easily be known from its congener, 

 the Two-LOBED BLEPSIAS (Blepsias bilobus), by the peculiar manner in which the spiny 

 portion of the dorsal fin is notched so as to form the whole fin into three distinct lobes. 

 In the second species this structure is not seen. In both, the soft portion of the dorsal 

 fin is greatly developed, and the body and fins are boldly marked with dark streaks upon 

 a lighter surface. The body is entirely covered with prickles. 



WE now come to a very familiar and not veiy prepossessing fish ; the well-known 

 BULL-HEAD, or MILLER'S THUMB, sometimes called by the name of TOMMY LOGGE. 



This large-headed and odd-looking fish is very common in our brooks and streams, 

 where it is generally found under loose stones, and affords great sport to the juvenile 

 fisherman. In my younger days, the chase of the Bull-head was rather an exciting one, 

 and was carried out without hook or line, or indeed any aid but the hands. This fish has a 

 habit of hiding itself under loose stones, and on account of its flat, though wide head, is 

 enabled to push itself into crevices which are apparently much too small to contain it. 



By practice, the stones which seemed most likely to shelter a Bull-head were soon 

 noted, and an experienced eye was not very long in detecting the presence of the fish. The 

 Bull-head has an inveterate habit of wriggling its tail, thus creating a current of water 

 which betrays its whereabouts. The mode of catching the fish was, to wade very quietly 

 to the stone, put both hands into the water, raise the stone smartly with the left hand, and 

 make a rapid grasp with the right on the place where the fish was supposed to be lying. 

 If the stone were tolerably large, the Bull-head could generally be picked out of its retreat 

 by the fingers of one hand, while those of the other hand stopped up the entrance of the 

 cranny, and prevented the intended prey from making its escape. The Bull-head is rather 

 slow of movement, and when the sheltering stone is suddenly removed, it seems perplexed 

 and bewildered, and merely flounces about in the same spot for a second or so before 

 darting off to secure itself by flight. 



