252 FISHES. 



soft dorsal largest; pectorals large, without detached 

 rays; ventrals thoracic, near together, usually imperfect, 

 but developed in all our species; air bladder usually 

 absent. Genera about twenty; species about 70. Mostly 

 of the shores of northern regions; several small species 

 abounding in the fresh waters of Europe, Asia and North 

 America. In habits these fresh water species bear a 

 strong resemblance to the Etheostomoids. All of them 

 are singular looking fishes, and many of the marine 

 species are hideous in appearance. 



Obs. — In the measurements given below, the total length of the 

 body is understood incl/mwe of -the caudal fin, not to base of caudal 

 as in other cases. 



* Second dorsal moderately elevated, not remote from the first; 

 preopercle with 1 to 3 spines. 

 t No teeth on the palate (pharyngeal teeth present, as usual) ; ven- 

 trals 1, 3; size small (length 3 to 3 inches). Ubanidba, 1. 

 ff Palate with teeth; ventrals 1,4; size usually larger (length 

 8 to 6 inches). 

 X Skin smooth, excepting usually a small patch of minute 

 spines in the axils of the pectorals. Potamocottus, 3. 

 XX Skin beset, especially above the lateral line, with small 

 hooked prickles ; preopercle armed with a strong sharp 

 spine, curved like a cow's horn ; back sub-carinate ; caudal 



peduncle slender Tadbidba, 8. 



*** Second dorsal very high, widely separated from the first ; pre- 

 opercle with 4 needle-like spines. . . Tbiglopsis, 4. 



/. URANIDEA, DeKay. Miller's Thumbs. 

 < Gottus, Girard. 

 ♦Slender, fusiform species; depth 6 to 6i in length. 



1. U. gracilis, (Heckel) Putnam. Miller's Thumb. 

 Little Stae Gazeb. Tips of pectorals reaching fourth 

 ray of second D., and first of anal; head 4 in total 

 length; eye 4 in head; grayish, mottled, D. VIII — 16; 



