652 NBiW YORK STATE MUSE^UM 



in May. The young are very common througliout the summer 



in Vineyard Sound among driftweed. Spawning occurs in April, 



sometimes in March, near the shore. After spawning the female 



retires to deep water and the male guards the eggs which hatch 



among seaweed. 



Family liparididae: 



Sea SnaMs > 



Group LIPARIDINAE 



Genus neoliparis Steindachner 

 This genus differs from L i p a r i s in having a deep notch in 

 the dorsal fin anteriorly, separating the spines from the soft 

 rays. The species approach more nearly to the cottoid type, from 

 which the liparids are descended. In general the vertebrae are 

 fewer, the fin rays fewer, the ventral disk larger, and the vertical 

 fins better separated than in the more degenerate members of 

 the family. The retention of the notch between the dorsals fully 

 justifies the recognition of N e o 1 i p a r i s as a distinct genus. 



319 Neoliparis atlanticus Jordan & Evermann 

 Sea Swdl; LumpsucJcer 



Liparis montagui Cuviee, Regne Anim. ed. 1, vol. 2, 227, 1817; Joedan & 

 GiLBEET, 743, 1883, in part; Gaeman, Discoboli, 47, 1892, with plate. 



Liparis Montagui Putnam, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 335, 1874; Goobe 

 &c Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 12, 1879. 



Neoliparis montagui H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 1898. 



Neoliparis atlanticus Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 

 2107, 1898. 



Body widest at gill opening, compressed posteriorly, deepest 



below third dorsal spine, its depth two ninths to one fourth of 



the total length without caudal. Head broader than deep, 



depressed above the eyes, its length contained four and two 



thirds times in total without caudal; snout one third and eye 



one fifth as long as the head. Mouth narrow, its cleft transverse 



and extending to anterior nostril; lower jaw included; teeth 



tricuspid, the middle cusps highest; gill openings very narrow, 



the lower border opposite first ray of pectoral; anterior nostril 



tubular, the tube three fifths as long as the eye; posterior nostril 



with a low flap; skin loose, lying in folds. Origin of dorsal not 



far behind pectoral, its distance from tip of snout one third its 



