FISHES OF NEfW YORK 643 



Cottus scorpins groenlandicus Goode <& Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 13, 1879; 



Bean, Bull. 15, U. S. Nat. Mus. 118, 1879; Joedan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 



U. S. Nat. Mus. 703, 1883. 

 Acanthocottiis imriahilis Storee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 26, pi. IV, fig. 1, 1867. 

 Acanthocottus grcenlandictis H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105. 1898. 

 Myoxoceplialvs groenlandicus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 



II, 1974, 1898. 



The length of the body is four and one half times the depth. 

 Head large, the length being contained two and one half times in 

 the length of the body. Mouth large, the lower jaw included; 

 maxillary reaching posterior edge of orbit, its length three 

 sevenths length of head; the supraorbital and occipital spines 

 blunt, tuberclelike, without cirrus; a small tubercular spine on 

 front of occipital ridge; upper preopercular spine short, only 

 reaching the middle of opercular spine, its length equaling eye, 

 not twice that of the spine below it; opercular spine sharp; nasal 

 spines sharp ; suprascapular spine rather strong and short. Sides 

 of body .above lateral line with a series of embedded prickly 

 plates, below which are numerous scattered spines and prickles. 

 Dorsal and anal fins high, their hight more than one seventh 

 total length without caudal. Ventrals long. Pectorals reaching 

 to vent. Eye large, equal to width of interorbital space. D. X, 

 17; A. 14; V. 1,3; P. 18. 



Dark brown above, with broad darker bars; below yellowish, 

 the belly in the male with large pale spots; back and top of head 

 with grayish blotches; fins brown and yellow, all of them spotted 

 and barred. Sexual differences great, the males more brightly 

 colored; the round white spots strongly marked; females with 

 rough crests on the head. 



^ The daddy sculpin is the largest of its kind on our east coast 

 as it grows to the length of 25 inches. It ranges from New York 

 to Grreenland, but is common in New York and Massachusetts 

 waters only in fall and winter. De Kay had met with a single 

 specimen which was taken near Hell Gate. Storer records it as 

 abundant on the coast of Massachusetts feeding on small fish, 

 crabs, sea urchins and other invertebrates; but not valued as 

 food. Dr Smith remarks that it arrives at Woods Hole in Octo- 

 ber^ remains till December or January, spawning in November 



