258 NATUEAL HISTOEY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



monopterygius— the " Greenlander," as it has been christened by the seamen ou the Fish Commission 

 steamer— has been observed as far south as Watch Hill, Ehode Island, and is quite abundant in 

 deep water north to the polar regions, having been frequently observed on the coast of Greenland. 

 This fish attains a length of seven or eight inches, and, although it is not much thicker or softer 

 than an iron spike, is sometimes found in the stomachs of codfish and halibut. 



" On the Pacific coast," writes Professor Jordan, " the Agonidse are represented by numerous 

 species inhabiting deep waters from Santa Barbara northward. They have no economic importance, 

 being brought into market only by accident. These species are Leptagonus verrucosus (Locking- 

 ton), J. & G. ; Leptagonus xyosternus, J. & G. ; Podothecus acipenserinus (Pallas), J. & G. ; Fodothecus 

 vulsus, J. & G.; Odontopyxis trispinosus Lockington; Bothragonus Swani (Steind.), Gill, and Aspi- 

 dophoroides inermis Gthr. The Triglidse are represented by Frionotm stephanophrys Lockington; 

 rarely seen at San Francisco." 



82. THE SCULPIN TRIBE— COTTID.aE. 



SouLPiNS OF THE ATLANTIC CoAST. — On our Atlantic coast are found several species of 

 this family, generally known by the name "Sculpin," and also by such titles as "Grubby," 

 "Puffing-grubby," "Daddy Sculpin," "Bullhead," "Sea-robin," "Sea-toad," and "Pig-flsh." Their 

 economic value is little or nothing, but they are important as scavengers, and are used for lobster 

 bait. They are often a source of great annoyance to the fishermen by cumbering their hooks and 

 by stealing their bait. The most abundant species is the Eighteen-spined Sculpin, Coitus octo- 

 decimspinosus, which frequents shallow and moderately deep waters from Labrador to New York. 

 It is usually associated with a much smaller species, Cottus ceneus, which may be called the " Pigmy 

 Sculpin," and which ranges from the Bay of Fundy to New York. 



Cottus scorpius, of Europe, is represented on our coasts by C. scorpius subsp. grcenlandicus, 

 which is abundant everywhere from New Yopk to Greenland and Labrador. This subspecies 

 has been found on the coast of Ireland,' and the typical Cottus scorpius has been shown by 

 Dr. Bean to occur in Maine. There is also, in addition to several insignificant species seldom 

 seen except by naturalists, a large, brilliantly colored form, known as the "Sea-raven," "Eock 

 Toad-fish," or "Deep-water Sculpin," which is found as far south as the entrance to Chesapeake 

 Bay, is abundant throughout New England, and has been discovered off the coast of Nova Scotia. 

 This &sh, Hemitripter us hispidus, or H. americanus, attains the length of two feet, and is conspicuous 

 by reason of its russet-orange or brick-red colors, its harlequin-like markings, its warted body, 

 its grotesquely elongated fins, and, above all, by its peculiar habit of swallowing air until its belly 

 is inflated like a balloon. 



These fishes feed upon all bottom animals, moUusks, crustaceans, sea-urchins, and worms, 

 and may also be found in the harbors devouring any refuse substances which may be lying upon 

 the bottom. They breed, for the most part, in summer, and certain sjjecies, like the Sea-raven 

 and the Greenland Sculpin, at that time assume very brilliant colors. They are not eaten by our 

 people, although the Sea-raven is decidedly palatable. Those species which occur in Greenland 

 are said to be eaten by the natives. As has been remarked, they are a source of annoyance to 

 fishei'men, whose bait they steal and whose hooks, especially the hooks of their trawl-lines, they 

 encumber. Boys delight to catch them and fix a piece of light wood between their teeth; they 

 are then unable to swim and struggle vigorously at the top of the water. 



About the fish-curing stations they are very abundant, and exceedingly useful as scavengers, 



'Annals of Natural History, 1641, p. 402. 



