380 MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 



COTTUS. BULLHEAD. 



Generic character. 



Head broader than the body, spiny. Eyes vertical, and furnished 

 with a nictitating membrane. Gill membrane six rayed. Body (in 

 most species) without scales, attenuated toward the tail. Dorsal fins 

 (chiefly) two. 



Eighteen-spined Bullhead. (Cottus octodecem-spinosus.) With white 

 belly dashed with inky spots, two banded dorsal fins, and eighteen spines 

 about the head. 



Called pig Jish, from the squeaking noise he makes immediately on 

 being taken out of the water. Another of his names is sculpin. Length 

 about twelve inches. Big, broad, long, channelled, and thorny head. 

 Spines on the head, neck, and gill covers, to the number of nine on 

 each side. 



Upper lip distinct. That, and the lower jaw, beset with minute teeth ; 

 as are also the palate and throat. No tongue. Mouth wide and capa- 

 cious. Lower jaw received within the upper. Body tapers away to 

 the tail. Eyes large and approximated, and of a yellowish red colour. 

 Lateral line rather prominent, feeling like a seam, and corresponding 

 with the back. Skin without scales and whitish, with an irregular dis- 

 colouration of brownish or muddy. Pectoral fins broad, oblique in their 

 insertion, and yellowish, with broad zones. Ventral whitish, with inky 

 stains. Dorsal, anal, and caudal, dark, with white bands. Belly white, 

 and stained with atramentous blots. Gill openings ample. 



Rays, Br. 6. P. 18. V. 3. D. 3—16. A. 13. C. 12. 



2. Brazen Bullhead. (Cottus wneus.) With brass-coloured complex- 

 ion, thorny head, and rusty blotches over the sides. 



