hoy's cottus. 987 



preoperonlar spines generally short, covered by the skin; skin smooth or vari- 

 ously prickly, without soales; villifocm teeth on jaws and vomer, and in some species 

 on palatines also ; gill-membranes fully united to the wide isthmus, over which they do 

 not form a fold ; no slit behind fourth gill ; branohiostegals 6 ; dorsals nearly or quite 

 separate, the first of 6-9 slender spines ; ventrals I, 3, or I, 4. Fishes of small size, in- 

 habiting clear waters in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. The species 

 are numerous, and difficult to distinguish, as they are all very similar in form and color- 

 . ation. The development of the palatine teeth in some of the species is so slight that 

 their presence cannot well be used as a generic character. 



It is not unlikely that other species besides those meniioued below may be found in 

 Lake Erie or its tributaries. 



Analysis of Subgenera and Spbciks of Uranidea. 



a. Palatine teeth obsolete ; ventrals (in our species) I, 3 ; skin smooth or nearly so. 



( Uranidea.) 

 h. Preopercular spine prominent, straight, directed backwards, and bat little up- 

 wards. . . . ..... HOYI. 



66. Preopercular spine moderate, hooked upwards. 



c. Pectorals short, not reaching anal. . . . feanklini. 



CO. Pectorals long, reaching anal. .... gracilis. 



aa. Palatine teeth present ; ventrals (in our species) I, 4. 

 d. Skin smooth, or prickly in the axil only. . . {Potamoeottas.) 



e. Preopercular spine short, hooked ; dorsal rays about VII-17 ; anal abont 12. 



EICHAEDSONI. 



X. Pectoral rays all simple 

 y. Spinous dorsal very low, of six spines; palatine teeth little developed; 



body small and slender. (Subspecies.) . . . iairdi. 



yy. Spinous dorsal well developed of 7 or 8 spines ; palatine teeth well de- 

 veloped ; body robust. (Subspecies.) . . . carolince. 

 XX. Upper pectoral rays branched. (Sobspeoies ) . . . tvileoni. 

 dd. Skin of back and sides covered with prickles. 



f. Preopercular spine short ; prickles villiform. . . (Cottopsia.) 

 ff. Preopercular spine long, strongly hooked ; prickles stiff. . (Tawidea.) 



SPILOTA. 



158. Ubanidea hjyi Putnam. 



Hoy's Cottus. 



Uranidea Tioyi, Pdtnam, Mss. — Nklson, Bull. His. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1876, 41. — Jordan, 

 Proc. Ac. Nat. So. Phila., 177, 63 ; Man. Vert., Ed. 2d, 1878, 253. 



Veacription. — Grayish olive, speckled and barred ; body rather slender ; female with 

 the anterior parts of body and ab jve lateral line covered with sparse prickles ; male 

 apparently smooth; head narrowed forwards; jaws narrow, about equal; maxillary 

 leaohing front of pupil ; preopercular spine prominent, longer than pupil, sharp, almost 

 straight, directed backwards and but little upwards ; below this is another sharp, prom- 

 inent spine, also nearly straight, directed partly downwards ; 1 or 2 minute concealed 



