Class IV. FATHER-LASHER BULL HEAD. 295 



The eyes are very close to each other. Be- 

 tween them and the mouth are two short spines; 

 on the coverts of the gills is one spine of great 

 length, strength, and sharpness; contiguous to 

 it are three others very short, but sharp ; the 

 mouth is large ; the jaws covered with rows of 

 very small teeth ; the roof of the mouth is fur- 

 nished with a triangular spot of minute teeth. 

 The back is more elevated than that of others 

 of this genus ; the belly prominent ; the side-line 

 rough, the rest of the body very smooth, and 

 grows slender towards the tail. The first dor- 

 sal fin consists of eight spiny rays ; the second 

 of eleven high soft rays ; the pectoral fins are 

 large, and have sixteen; the ventral three; the 

 anal eight ; the tail is rounded at the end, and 

 is composed of twelve bifurcated rays. The 

 color of the body is brown, or dusky, and white 

 marbled, and sometimes is found also stained 

 with red; the fins and tail are transparent, 

 sometimes clouded, but the rays barred regu- 

 larly with brown; the belly is of a silvery 

 white. 



This kind is very frequent in the Newfound- American-. 

 land seas, where it is called Scolping : it is also 

 as common on the coast of Greenland in deep 

 water near shore. It is a principal food of the 

 natives, and the soup made of it is said to be 

 agreeable as well as wholesome. 



