168 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



presume that it exists on our shores. Dr. Mitchill has described four species of this genus 

 in the American Montidy Magazine, under the names of Lophius radiatus, aculeatus, pro- 

 stratus and calico. With the exception of the first, wliich is, however, doubtful, the descrip- 

 tions are too vague to enable me either to point out their specific differences, or to refer them 

 to the previously described species. They are all from the Straits of Bahama. 



GENUS BATRACHUS. Schneider, Ciivier. 



Head depressed, broader tlian the body. Ventrals jugular, with three rays ; the first elon- 

 gated. First dorsal small ; second low and long. Base of the pectorals elongated. Bran- 

 chial aperture small, with six rays. Suhopcrcle as large as the opercle, and both spinous. 

 No suborbital. Teeth on the jaws, front of the vomer and palatines. 



Obs. The place of this genus is not yet completely settled. Some authors have arranged 

 it vyith Uranoscopus, but, as Cuvier has demonstrated, upon insufficient grounds. 



THE COMMON TOAD-FISH. 



Batrachds tau. 



PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 66. 



Gadus tau. LiNN. Syst. Nat. EJ. 12, p. 439. 



Id. ScHCEPFF, Beobiicht. Vol. 8, p. 141. 



Toad-fish, Lophius bufo. MiTCHILL, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 4G3. 



Batrachoidcs vernullas. Lesceuu, Mem. <lu Museum, Vol. 5, p. 157, pi. 17. 



B. vnriegatus, var. a, b. Id. Ac. So. Vol. 3, p. 3D3 and 401. 



B. mriegatus. Toad-fish. Stoker, Massachusetts Report, p. 74. 



lic Batrachoide tau. Cov. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 12, p. 478. 



Characteristics. Dorsals connected; the posterior with from twenty-five to twenty-eight 

 spines. Length 6-12 inches. 



Description. Body thick and rounded before, attenuated and compressed behind. Head 

 broad, depressed; its width equalling its length. Skin without scales, and, in the recent 

 state, covered with a thick coating of mucus. The openings of mucous pores visible beneath 

 the eyes, and over the head and body. Lateral line obsolete. Facial outline sloping. The 

 eyes large, lateral, but with an almost vertical aspect, and nearly covered with a fleshy mem- 

 brane. Opercle with three concealed spines. Numerous cirri about the head and mouth, and 

 a series of from five to seven cirri on each side of the lower jaw. Branchial rays six, and 

 the aperture scarcely wider than the base of the pectorals. Gape of the mouth very large, 

 with fleshy lips. Tongue pointed, not distinct. A series of blunt pointed tectli in the lower 

 jaw, more numerous and crowded in front. Similar but more acute teeth in the upper jaw, 

 and still larger ones on the anterior part of the vomer, and on the palatines. 



