CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 95 



44. COTTUS POLYACANTHOCEPEALUS Pallas. 



The Spiny-headed Sculpin is very abundant among all the Aleutian Islands. I am not aware 

 that it occurs north of Aliaska on the American side. 



It does not differ in habits from the other species, and like them is used for food by the Aleuts 

 and some of the whites. 



It attains a greater size than the preceding species, has a larger head and thicker body. The 

 coloration is also different. The ground color is dark brown ; sides and tail are more or less dis- 

 tinctly banded with yellowish ; the dorsal fin has two oblique dark bands in front and three on the 

 posterior part. The anal fin has four dark bands; each of the outer ones less evident. 



The pectoral has three irregular bands of dark brown with yellowish spots. The caudal is 

 obscurely banded with dark brown and tipped with yellowish. 



46. Cottus humilis Bean. (See Fig. VII.) 



This Sculpin is very abundant at Saint Michael's throughout the year. During winter they 

 retire to the deeper portions of the bays. In summer they approach the shores and obtain most of 

 their food during the flooding of the tide. They are not active ; usually they progress a few feet and 

 then rest quietly on the bottom. When a desirable object of food comes near they give a quick dash 

 upon it. The size of the mouth makes up for any apparent lack of speed. The Eskimo call this 

 species Kd nukh pith, or Big-mouth. The Russian name is Kaldg, and is applied to all the species 

 of this genus which occur there. The Sculpins are generally taken with hook and line. Any kind 

 of fresh meat is used for bait. The fish are voracious feeders, and when caught with the steel 

 hooks they frequently swallow the hook so deeply that the fish has to be ripped open to take it 

 out. They are caught principally by the old women and men who are not able to go great distances 

 to procure other food. 



Other species of Sculpins occur in Alaskan waters, but a lack of means to preserve a great 

 number of specimens necessitated my collecting only the most important. 

 54. Hbmilepidotus jordani Bean. 



A single specimen of this species was taken in October at Unalashka. It is a common species, 

 and occurs throughout the Aleutian Islands. It attains a considerable size, often fourteen to 

 sixteen inches in length. The general color above is umber-brown, becoming yellowish-brown 

 below, with numerous spots and blotches of irregular size on sides and fins. This fish is considered 

 excellent food. It is not infested with parasites like other fishes of its kind. They have similar 

 habits with the trite Sculpins. 



CHIRIDiE. 



70. Hexagrammus asper Steller. (See Fig. VIII.) 



This fish is known to the English-speaking people of Saint Michael's and the Unalashkan dis- 

 tricts as " Rock-cod," and to the Russian-speaking population as li Terpdog," a word meaning a 

 rasp. 



The " Terpoog" frequents the rocky ledges, points of land which extend into the water, and 

 shallow coves. Those places where the various kinds of sea-weeds abound are the best resorts for 

 this fish. When the tide is high they seek their food among the rocky reefs. The natives value 

 their flesh very highly. The meat is quite firm and contains few bones; it has a peculiar greenish 

 color, but soon becomes light in color after the death of the fish. The women do most of the fish- 

 ing for these fish. Any kind of fresh meat is used for bait. Frequently the women will be taken 

 by the men to some favorite locality and remain there to fish while the men continue the journey 

 in search of wood cast up on the beach, or go out to sea to catch Cod or other fish. 



During the winter time the foxes of the Aleutian Islands catch many of these " Rock-cod," as 

 they are left in the shallow lagoons or rock crevices by the receding tides. The fox is quite expert* 

 in catching the fish. He will watch them for a long time until they wander into the shallower 

 water, upon which the fox springs, even immersing his entire head to seize the fish. 



This species rarely attains a greater length than fourteen inches and a weight of a pound and a 

 half to two pounds. Their distribution in Alaska is the entire coast south of Bering's Strait, and in- 



