percid^;. 93 



Genus: Cottogaster. 

 Key to Species. 



A. Mid-line of belly with a series of enlarged caducous scales or plates. — copela-ndi. 

 AA. Mid-line of belly naked anteriorly, covered with ordinary scales posteriorly. — 



shumardi. 



Cottogaster copelandi (Jordan). 



Head 3^ to 4^; depth 5^ to 6%; eye about y/ 2 . D. X to XII-10 to 

 12; A. II, 8 or 9; scales 6-44 to 56-8. Body rather slender. Head rather 

 large and long, much resembling that of Boleosoma. Mouth small, hori- 

 zontal, sub-inferior, cheeks naked; opercles and neck with a few scales, 

 throat naked; ventral plates well developed. Pectoral fin as long as head. 

 Color, brownish olive, tessellated above; a series of small, oblong, dark 

 blotches along lateral line, sometimes indistinct. Vertical fins with dusky 

 specks; a black spot on anterior rays of spinous dorsal. Length 2^ or 3 

 inches. 



Widely distributed over the state, but apparently very rare 

 everywhere. Muskingum river, and Ohio river at Raccoon Island, 

 1889, and Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay, Henshall ; Lorain County, 

 " Vermillion river, but one specimen taken," McCormick, 1892 ; 

 Maumee river at Toledo, two specimens, Kirsch, 1893 > i Q Huron 

 river at Milan, in 1897, two specimens were taken by Prof. D. S. 

 Kellicott, Mr. E. B. Williamson and the writer. 



Cottogaster shumardi (Girard). 



Head 3! to 4; depth 5 to 5^; eye y/ z . D. IX to XI-13 to 15; A. II, 10 

 to 12; scales 6-48 to 60-11. Body stout, heavy forward, compressed behind. 

 Head broad and thick. Mouth large and broad, lower jaw the shorter. 

 Premaxillaries usually protractile, but a narrow frenum sometimes present. 

 Cheeks, opercles and neck usually scaly; chest naked; belly naked anteri- 

 orly, scaled for a short distance before vent. Color dark, densely but vaguely 

 spotted with darker; sides with 8 or 10 obscure blotches; a large, black spot 

 at base of spinous dorsal behind, and a small one in front. Length 3 inches. 



Not common, but occuring in both the Lake Erie and Ohio 

 river drainage. Found on sandy bottom in rivers, not found in 

 small streams. Recorded by Henshall for the Muskingum river 

 and for the Ohio river near Parkersburg, 1889 ; recorded for 

 Vermillion river as Etheostoma zvrighti, by McCormick, 1892 ; in 

 1899 the writer took a half dozen specimens in the Ohio river at 

 Iron ton, and in August, 1900, the species was again taken at 

 Bellaire. 



