34 



the sculpin family. Its name is derived from the formation of the first 

 dorsal fin, which is short and greatly elevated so as to suggest a tri- 

 angular sail. Another striking characteristic is a broad band of black 

 which passes diagonally through the eye. It is perhaps to be expected 

 that a deep-water sailor-fish would carry a black eye. Specimens 

 range up to 6 inches in length. 



The Cirrhated Sculpin, Blepsias cirrhosus (Pallas), (Pig. 76) is 

 another species that departs rather widely from the general run of 

 Sculpins. Its body is compressed so as to be quite thin and the head 

 is comparatively small. The skin is devoid of scales, but is covered 

 with small prickles. The first dorsal is elevated and is divided into 

 two portions by a deep notch, the second portion being much the 

 smaller. The second dorsal and the anal fin are relatively large. In 

 color it is dark olive above, shading into yellow beneath. The back 

 and sides are marked with black blotches and with several areas hav- 

 ing a metallic sheen. Mature specimens are about 6 inches in length. 



The Red-finned Sculpin, Ascelichthys rhodorus (Jordan and Gil- 

 bert), (Fig. 77) is a smooth species in which the ventral fins are en- 

 tirely absent. The dorsal fins are connected by a membrane. In the 

 living fish the first dorsal fin is edged with bright crimson. It is re- 

 ported as abundant at Neah Bay. 



The Tadpole Scnlpin, PsycUrolutes paradoxus (Gunther), (Fig. 

 78A) is one of the smallest of the Cottidae. It is seldom more than two 

 inches in length, and is devoid of both scales and spines. The body is 

 covered with loose movable skin. The color is creamy white mottled 

 with dark blotches. 



Gilbert's Sculpin, Gilhertidia sigalutes (Jordan and Starks), is 

 similar to Psychrolutes but differs among other things in the shape of 

 the dorsal fin, which is much larger in Gilbertidia and more elevated 

 in front. The color of Gilbert's Sculpin is dusky, with hazy darker 

 markings on the back about the front of the dorsal and above the base 

 of the tail. It is two and one-halt inches in length. 



FAMILY 35. GRUNT-FISHES; RHAMPHOCOTTIDAE. 



This is a small family, containing but a single genus with one 

 known species of fish. It is allied to the great family of the sculpins, 

 but has characters which link it up to another important group known 

 as the Sea-poachers or Agonidae. 



The Grunt-fish, Rhamphocottus richardsoni (Gunther), (Fig. 78B) 

 is one of the most singular of our local species. The head is very large 

 in proportion to the body and is rough with a number of projecting 

 bony prominences, which would delight the heart of a fish phrenologist. 

 The skin is without scales which are replaced by small prickles. The 

 first dorsal is small, fitting into a groove in the back. The lower rays 



