MARINE AQUARIA 



colors. The common form is Stephanolepis hispidus of the Eastern and 

 Middle States coast. 



Swell Fishes or Tetrodontida. These curious fishes, also known as 

 Puffers, Globe-and Porcupine-fishes, are summer visitors from warmer 

 seas. Two species are taken on the Middle Atlantic coast, the common 

 Swell-fish, Spheroides m'aculatus, very abundant, and the Rabbit-fish, Lago- 

 cephalus Itevigatus, an occasional straggler. 



Sculpins or Cottida. These fishes are most abundant in the waters of 

 the northern seas, several forms straying below Cape Cod. The common 

 Miller's Thumb or Blob, Uranidea gracilis, may also be found in clear, 

 cold freshwater streams; and the common Marine Sculpin, or Grubby, 

 Acanthocottus aneus, near the coast, from Maine to Cape Hatteras. 



Toad Fishes or Batrachida. These fishes resemble the Sculpins, and 

 are the most repulsive looking fishes of the coast. They frequent oyster 

 beds, and the common form, Opsanus tau, is abundant along the coast, 

 the young, when cleaned of the adhering mud, making hardy and odd 

 aquarium inmates. 



Blennies or Blenniida. Two species of these small fishes inhabit the 

 shallower waters on the Atlantic coast, living principally in the Kelp and 

 other weeds. The common form is Pholis gunnellus, the well-known 

 Butter-fish. 



Gobies or Gobiida. Several species of small size, the Scaleless Goby, 

 Gobiosoma bosci\ and the Chubby Goby, Gobius separator, are sometimes 

 seen in aquaria. The former ranges from Cape Cod to Texas, the latter 

 along the Gulf States and farther north. They are hardy and will survive 

 in the aquarium for long periods. 



Gurnards or Triglida. Several species of Sea Robbins are represent- 

 ed on the Atlantic coast. The young of the Web-fingered Sea-robbin, 

 Prinotus Palmipes, and the Wing-fish, P. evolans, make interesting 

 aquarium Inmates, as they have the habit of crawling over the bottom 

 on their pectoral appendages. 



Flying Gurnards or Cephalacanthida. These fishes, known as Sea- 

 bats, occur on the Atlantic coast and the young are frequently taken for 

 the aquarium. The one common species is Cephalacanthus volitans. 



Star Gazers or Uranoscopid^e. Of these fishes there is but one 

 species along the Middle Atlantic coast, Astroscopus anoplus, which reaches 

 a length of 12 inches. The young are sometimes seen in aquaria in 

 which they may survive for long periods. 



Cusk Eels or Ophidiida. But one species occur on the New Jersey 

 coast, Rissola marginata, about 7 inches in length, found in the surf and 



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