256 



GRUNTING BULLHEAD. 



minute teeth : the skin of the whole body is smooth 

 and slippery. This fish occasionally swims with 

 great strength and rapidity, when in pursuit of its 

 prey, though its general habit is that of lying in an 

 apparently inert state. Notwithstanding its dis- 

 agreeable appearance, it is considered as an edible 

 fish, and is even regarded as delicate : the flesh 

 however turns of a red or salmon-colour on boiling, 

 and the fish is admitted only at the tables of those 

 of inferior rank. It usually spawns in the monthf 

 of March and April. 



GRUNTING BULLHEAD. 



Cottus Grunniens. C. fuscus albido-mriatus, gula ramentis 



villosa, corpore nudo. 

 Brown Bullhead, with whitish variegations, naked body, and 



throat shagged with cirri. 

 Cottus grunniens. C. gula ramentis villosa, corpore nudo. 



Lin. Syst. Nat, p. 451. 

 Cottus glaber, maxilla inferiore multum cirrata. Block. 1. 179. 



Native of the Indian and American seas : length 

 six or eight inches : colour brown, varied with 

 white on the sides : fins pale, spotted with brown ; 

 skin of the whole animal marked by numerous 

 • pores, exsuding a mucous fluid, as in most other 

 species : head large ; eyes small, mouth very wide ; 

 tongue and palate smooth; lower jaw longer than 

 the upper, and furnished with numerous cirri, which 

 appear also on each side the head : lips strong ; 

 teeth sharp, distinct, recurved, and placed in several 



