54 NEW-yORK FAUNA. 



another stouter on the upper portion of the humeral bone. Nostrils tubular. Lower jaw 

 received within the upper, and both with numerous sharp incurved minute teeth, which 

 may be traced on the vomer. Tongue with faint asperities. 



The first dorsal fin arises 0-9 from the end of the snout, and contains ten feebly spinous 

 rays : the first is shorter than the second, and tiie three last are successively shorter ; it is 

 connected by a low membrane with the second, which rises immediately behind it (in the 

 figure this is not shown) : it comprises fourteen rays, and ends beyond the termination of the 

 anal fin. Pectorals broad, with sixteen rays ; the inferior shortest, and gradually increasing in 

 length to the ninth ray. Ventral fin with three subequal rays, reaching nearly to the vent. 

 The anal fin commences under the second ray of the posterior dorsal, and contains eleven 

 rays, nearly as high as the dorsal. Caudal fin long, nearly even, with nine complete and 

 four accessory rays on each side, 



Color. Yellowish, more or less bright, with confluent bars and blotches over the back and 

 sides. All the fins with interrupted black bars. The ventrals more distinctly marked with 

 three black bars. Head and cheeks brownish olive. 



, Length, 3' 3. Greatest depth, 0"9. 



Fin rays, D. 10 . 14 ; P. 16 ; V. 3 ; A. 1 1 ; C. 9 |. - 



I suppose this to have been the species intended by Mitchill under the name of C. scorpio, 

 and to which Cuvier has given the name of C. mitchilli. It can scarcely be (as that distin- 

 guished ichthyologist has suggested) the young of the large Common Bull-head. The spines 

 of the preopercle and the radial formula render it highly probable that it is a small and dis- 

 tinct, but hitherto neglected species. It has the habits of the preceding, and is commonly 

 taken with the hook, in company with the Pluronectus planus, and other flat fishes. 



THE GREENLAND BULL-HEAD. 



COTTUa GRCENLANDICns. 

 PLATE IV. FIG. 10. 



Cottus scorpius. Fabricius, Fauna Grcenlandica, p. 156. 



Cottus quadricoTjiis. App. to Parry's Ist and 3d Voyages. 



Coitus grwnlandicus. Ccv. ct Val. Hist, Poiss. Vol. 4, p. 156. 



Greenland Bull-head, C. gramlandicus. RicHAKDSON, F. B. A. Vol, 3, p. 46 ; and p, 297, pi. 95, fig. 2. 



Greenland Sculpiny C, Id. Storer, Massachusetts Report, p. 16. 



Characteristics. A quadrangular area on the head, bounded by four tubercles. Circular 

 white spots on the abdomen. Length twelve to fourteen inches. 



Description. Head with several spines ; those on the summit blunted ; those on the gill- 

 covers longer, with projecting sharp points. Nasal spines recurved, three inches long. At 

 the posterior superior angles of the eyes, a strong slightly recurved spine, stouter than the 

 nasal ones. Two erect stronger spines on the occiput : between these and the preceding, is 



