HABITS OF THE LUMP FISH. 255 



and Nova Scotia to deposit its spawn. It is then taken in considerable numbers near the harbors 

 at Halifax, the largest weighing about five pounds. They are taken there of two different colors, 

 the one being a dark blue approaching to black, and the other quite red. Those of a red color 

 only are used as food; they are considered good by many, although very fat and somewhat oily; 

 the dark-colored is considered very inferior and is not eaten." 



On the Pacific coast the Goiiesocidte are represented by Oobiesox reticulatus (Grd.) J. &.G., a 

 small fish four or five inches long, adhering to rocks by a sucking disk on the breast. It is found 

 from Monterey northward, and has no economic value. The Cyclopteridw are represented by the 

 rare Gyclopterus orbis occasionally taken in the Straits of Fuca and northward. The Idparididw 

 are represented by lAparis pulchellus Ayres, and NeoUparis mucosus (Ayres) Steindachner, small 

 fishes occasionally taken about San Francisco and Monterey, of no economic importance. 



80. THE GOBIES— GOBIID.a;. 



The Goby family is represented on the Atlantic coast by several species, none of which have 

 ever been found north of Cape Cod, and none of which are or ever can be of the slightest Imjior- 

 tance. Chief among these are the scaleless Goby, Oobosoma alepidotum, which is found between 

 Cape Cod and Texas; the Chubby Goby, Gobius separator, common along the Gulf coast, and several 

 species belonging to the genera Eleotris and Dormitator. They are not even abundant enough to 

 be worthy of consideration as food for other fishes. On the Pacific coast there are several small 

 species, which may be seen lying on the bottoms entering the lagoons. They reach the length of 

 three to six inches, and are of no economic importance, though the Chinese eat the Long-jawed 

 Goby, GilUchthys mirabilis, and its flesh is said to be very good. The other species are Gobius 

 fflaucofrcenum (Gill) J. & G., in Puget Sound ; Lepidogobius gracilis (Girard) Gill, from San 

 Francisco northward; Duoyclogobius Newberrii (Girard) Gill, rarely seen iibout San Francisco, and 

 GilUchthys mirabilis Cooper, found the entire length of the coast, but abundant only from San 

 Francisco southward. The latter species burrows in the muddy bottoms of the lagoons. 



81, THE SEA-ROBIN OR GURNARD FAMILY— TRIGLID.a;. 



This family is represented on our Atlantic coast by several species, some of them being quite 

 abundant. The most striking of them all is the Sea-bat or Flying Gurnard, Bactylopterus volitans, 

 which is remarkable on account of its enormous spreading fins, larger than those of a flying-fish — 

 wings which, however, are not sufiiciently powerful to lift the body above the surface of the water, 

 though useful in maintaining the equilibrium of the heavy-headed body swimming through the 

 water. The colors of tke body and of the fins are very brilliant, and the fish is often exhibited as a 

 curiosity. It is found along our entire coast south of Cape Cod, and in the waters of Brazil; also 

 in the Mediterranean and in the neighboring parts of the Eastern Atlantic. 



The genus Prionotus. of which we have five specimens, resembles Dactyloptents in general 

 form, but the wings are much smaller, while two or three of the lower rays of these fins are devel- 

 oped into finger-like appendages which are used in stirring up the weeds and sand to rout out the 

 small animals upon which they feed. In Southern New England there are two large species, P. 

 palmipes and P. evolans, the latter distinguished by the presence of dark stripes upon its sides. 

 These attain the length of fifteen to eighteen inches and the weight of one and a quarter to two 

 pounds. They have excellent food qualities, but are eaten, so far as we have record, only in the 

 vicinity of Hartford, Connecticut, where they are known as " Wing- fish." They are taken in great 

 quantities in the pound-nets along the Vineyard Sound, especially the unstriped species, the habits 



