FAMILY " WITH HAED CHEEKS." . 73 



CHAPTEE VI. 



Series I. BONT FISSBS. 



Order I. ACANTHOFTBBYBII*. 



Family "WITS HARD CBBEKS.' 

 GenuB COTTUS\. 



THE EIVEK, BULLHEAD, or MILLER'S THUMB. 



(Cottits gobioX.) 



Characteristics of the Family "with Hard Cheeks." — This family 

 compreliends a number of fish, in all of wHch the appearance of the 

 head is singular, being variously mailed, or defended by hard spines or 

 scaly plates. They have many characteristics in common ■with the 

 Perch family. Their principal distinction consists in the suborbital 

 bone being more or less extended over the cheek and jointed on to the 

 gUl-cover. 



The genus Cottus contains several species belonging to 

 this family, of which, however, we have only one in this 

 country — the River Bullhead, or MiUer's Thumb. The 

 distinguishing characteristics of all the species of the genus 



* Spiny-finned fishes (see p.36). t Cofflas, from Aofte, the head, Gr. 

 X Gobio, a gudgeon, Lat.: may be roughly translated as the 'large- 

 headed Gudgeon.' Sometimes called 'Tommy Logge.' 



