60 MONOGEAPH OF THE FRESH WATER III. 



it is the presence of three soft rays to the ventral fins. It cannot be identified 

 with G. Franldinii, although the ventrals of the latter possess only three soft rays ; 

 nor is it the G. affinis of Scandinavia which has again one soft ray more to its 

 ventrals. Although the absolute number of the rays of the other fins does not con- 

 stitute a specific character of unvariable constancy, that number is so peculiar in this 

 case that it can be provisionally taken into account until the study of this species 

 can be completed hereafter. 



Br. 6 D X.— 17. A 18. C 12. V I. 3. P 19. 



0th. Fabricius adds nothing special on the structure of the fins. He says that 

 both dorsals are contiguous by a low membrane. This is the case with nearly all 

 the Cotti and many Acanthocotti. We quote from his description the following 

 details respecting the coloration. " The iris is silvery. The skin smooth, with a 

 somewhat rough lateral line; sometimes the region behind the eyes and beneath 

 the pectoral fins is also rough. Color of the back blackish, the sides white spotted. 

 The belly paler, with white spots, which are silvery behind the anus. The breast 

 and under part of the tail are white. Pectoral fins blackish, sinuated by a paler 

 coloration, with their lower margin red. Second dorsal of the same color, but not 

 bordered with red. First dorsal blackish. Ventrals white, with reddish spots. 

 Anal reddish. Caudal palish. The female differs by its belly being not spotted, 

 below whiter, and yellow dark-spotted ventrals." 



This coloration strikes us as much more similar to that of Acanthocotti than to 

 anything we know amongst Cottus proper. 



The same author says that this species frequents sandy and argillaceous bottoms, 

 and that its food consists of fishes (Ammodytes), holothuria {H. priapus), marine 

 worms, and others living in the sand and clay. 



The female deposits her white eggs amongst the Ulva, where they are watched 

 by the male, as is the case with the lump fish and A. scorpioides. 



That the lump fish {Lumpus anglorum) on the coasts of New England watches 

 its eggs we have been often told by fishermen. We never heard whether sculpins 

 (Acanthocotti) did the same. 



At any rate nothing of the kind has, as yet, been observed amongst Cottus pro- 

 per, and thus there would be in the history of this species a peculiarity unknown 

 in the others, and which recalls to mind analogous facts observed amongst 

 European sticklebacks. 



