THE LONG-SPINED COTTUS. 187 



are found to inhabit the coasts of Britain, which are not 

 only distinguished from one another by certain specific 

 characters, but differ likewise in their habits and peculia- 

 rities. 



Mr Yarrell, who was the first naturalist to discover the 

 Coitus bubalis as British, says that the " Father Lasher is 

 immediately recognised by its well-armed head and long 

 spines, but seldom measures more than from six to ten 

 inches in length on our shores. During the greater part of 

 the year it is to be found on the coast from Cornwall to the 

 Orkneys, and is frequently left by the receding of the tide 

 in small pools among rocks. The general appearance of 

 the fish is forbidding ; when touched it distends its gill- 

 covers, and sets out its numerous spines, assuming a most 

 threatening appearance. It spawns in January, and the ova 

 at that time are very large, and of a fine orange-yellow 

 colour. These are deposited near the sea-shore, frequently 

 in the estuaries and sometimes even in rivers ; the fish hav- 

 ing prepared itself for this change by its previous residence 

 in the brackish water, after which it appears to be able to 

 bear either extreme. Its food is small crustaceous animals, 

 and it is said to be particularly partial to feeding on the fry 

 of the blennies. In Greenland it is in such great request;, 

 that Pallas tells us it forms the principal food of the 

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

 well as wholesome." This fish is as frequently met with in 

 the Firth of Forth as the Coitus scorpius, and is common 

 throughout the Firth, but seldom found higher up the 

 estuary than a little above Queensferry. Near North Ber- 

 wick, as many as nine were taken from a small pool that 

 had been left by the tide. The most favourable locality 

 for this fish appears to be rocky situations, or where there 

 are large stones covered with fuci, among which it secures 



