264 



JAPANESE BULLHEAD. 



body is octagon al, covered with a number of bony 

 crusts, and divided into several compartments, the 

 ends of which project into a sharp point, and form 

 several echinated lines along the back and the 

 sides from head to tail : the first dorsal fin usually 

 consists of six spiny rays ; the second is placed im- 

 mediately behind it, and consists of seven soft rays: 

 the pectoral are broad and rounded, and are com- 

 posed of fifteen rays. This fish is an inhabitant 

 of the European seas, and is found in plenty on 

 our own coasts, living on worms and water-insects, 

 and spawning in the month of May, Its colour is 

 brown above, and whitish beneath : and on the 

 back are three or four blackish transverse bands. 



JAPANESE BULLHEAD. 



Cottus Japonicus. C, fusco-flavescens, corpore loricato, cirris 

 nullis. 



Yellowish brown Bullhead, with mailed body and without cirri. 

 Cottus Japonicus. C. corpore octogono, squamis osseis aculeatis 

 loricato 3 cirris nullis, Lin. Syst. Nat, Gmel.p. 1213. 



This, which is a native of the seas about the 

 Kurile islands, was first described by Dr. Pallas, 

 who informs us that it grows to the length of about 

 twelve inches, and is of a yellowish white colour, 

 dusky on the back: its general habit resembles 

 that of the mailed Bullhead, being, like that 

 species, covered with a bpny armature, disposed 

 into eight prominent lines along the body, but is 

 destitute of the cirri or beards under the throat > 



