990 FISHES — COTTID^. 



in other species of similar range, the inhabitants of each stream, or of each river-basin, 

 may show local peculiarities. A number of these forms have received from Dr. Grirard 

 specific names, which are accompanied by detailed descriptions. Large collections of 

 these fishes reveal the fact that numerous other "species" still exist undesoribed, as It 

 is a rare thing to find a specimen which exactly agrees in all respects with any of the 

 species in Dr. Girard's " Monograph of the Fresh-Water Cottoids." The following forms, 

 of all of which the writer has specimens, may possibly be recognized as "varieties," 

 but of their complete intergradation we have no doubt. 



Var. richardsoni (Ag. ) is rather slender, with the vent rather more posterior than usual, 

 placed midway between the snout and the tip of the caudal ; in the others it is nearly 

 midway between the snout and middle of caudal. Wisconsin to Lake Superior. 



Var. iairdi (Girard) is small and slender, with the spinous dorsal very low, and the 

 palatine teeth less developed than in the other forms. Cayuga Lake, N. Y., to Ohio. 



Var. wilsonH Grd.) is rathwr stouter, with stronger palatine teeth, and with some of 

 the uppermost of the pectoial rays bifurcate, they being entire in the others. Ohio 

 Valley, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. 



Var. alvordi (Grd.) is shoit and chubby, with the first dorsal rather high and joined 

 by membrane to the second more than in other forms. Common in Wisconsin and 

 Michigan. 



Var. meridionalia (Grd.) is rather robust, with the dorsal fins scarcely connected, and 

 the mouth rather larger, the maxillary extending to opposite posterior border of eye ; 

 the preopercular spine is sharp and directed well upward. Pennsylvauia to North 

 Carolina, along the Alleghanies ; abundant. 



Var. zophera (Jor.) is slender and very dark in color, and more conspicuously varie- 

 gated ; the palatine teeth well developed. Alabama Eiver. 



Var. Carolines (Gill) is a very large form, rather robust, reaching a length of nearly 

 six inches, without axillary prickles, and with the palatine teeth well developed. The 

 lateral line, as in the other forms, is sometimes continuous and sometimes interrupted. 

 It abounds in the limestone region from Indiana to Tennessee, and is frequently found 

 in caves and under railroad culverts. 



The folio vring interesting account of the habits of this species is from 

 the pen of Prof. 8. H. Gage, of Cornell University. He terms the fish 

 the "Cuyuga Lake Star Gazer." 



" This curious little fish Uranidea tairdi, which, when it is full grown, is only about 

 as long as one's middle finger, justly merits its name, as its eyes are directly on top of its 

 head. Its salt water cousin is the Sea Robin or the Gurnard, which it resembles in 

 having very large pectoral fins placed close to the broad head. These fias are so large, 

 and the head so broad that the fish looks as if it were nearly all head and pectoral fins. 

 The Star Gazer is so peculiar in form and habits, that in nearly every locality a special 

 name has been given it. The fishermen of Cayuga Lake call it the " stone fish,'' as it is 

 found almost exclusively under stones. In the northern part of the State it is called a 

 "flying fish," from its rapid movements, and in England it is called the "miller's 

 thumb," from the supposed resemblance of its broad, flat head to a miller's thumb. 



" The European Star Gazer ( Uranidea goteo) was known to that pioneer in all human 

 knowledge, Aristotle, who called it Kottus, whence the modern scientific name Cottua. 



