cottoidEjE. 47 



on the cranium, but no spines. It is abundant in all the bays and inlets of 

 Greenland, but prefers a stony coast clothed with sea-weed. It approaches the 

 shore in spring and departs in winter. It is very voracious, preying on every thing 

 that comes in its way, and pursuing incessantly the smaller fish, not sparing the 

 young of its own species, and devouring Crustacea and worms. It is very active 

 and bold, but does not come to the surface unless it be led thither in pursuit of 

 other fish. It spawns in December and January, and deposits its red-coloured roe 

 on the sea-weed. It is easily taken with a bait, and constitutes the daily food of 

 the Greenlanders, who are very fond of it. They eat the roe raw. 



Fins.— Br. 6; D. 10/ — 17 ; A. 14; C. 17; P. 17; V. 3. {Fauna Grand.) 



[16.] 6. Cottus scorpioides. (Fabricius.) The Pokudleek. 



Le petit Chaboisseau du Greenland {Cottus scorpioides). Cuv. et Vai,., iv., p. 187. 



This species, according to the description given of it by Fabricius, approaches 

 some of the European species, and a comparison of specimens is required to esta- 

 blish it as distinct. It is named " Pokudleek " by the Greenlanders, and frequents 

 muddy places near the mouths of rivers, preferring brackish water. 



The rays of its Fins are D. 10 — 15 ; A. 12 ; C. 15; P. 15; V. 3. {Fauna Grcenl.) 



[17.] 7. Cottus porosus. (Valenciennes.) Porous Bull-head. 



Le Chaboisseau poreux (Cottus porosus). Cuv. et Vai.., viii., p. 498. 



This species resembles the C. scorpius of Europe in the armature of the top of 

 its head and gill-covers, and C. Groenlandicus, or scorpioides, in the great number 

 of its dorsal rays. A specimen, six inches long, was taken in Baffin's Bay, which 

 had several hundreds of very small shrimps in its stomach. 



Fins— Br. 6 ; D. 11 — 1/16 ; A. 13 ; C. 17; P. 18 ; V. 1/3. {Hist des Poiss.) 



