436 
YERTEBKATA. 
TUli SEA-SCOKPIOX. 
The Sea-Scorpion or Short-spined Cottus, C. scorpius^ is five to eight inches long; is very 
voracious, swims rapidly, and is found under stones 
and sea-weed along the European shores. They are 
often caught in trawl-nets, but are of no value ; on 
account of their sharp spines they are carefully hand- 
led ; common in European and American waters. 
The Father Lasher, C. buhalis — called Lucky 
Proach in Scotland — is six to twelve inches long ; feeds 
on small Crustacea and young blennies; when touched 
it sets out its numerous spines, and assumes a most 
threatening appearance. Found in European w^aters, 
and is common on the British . coasts. It will live a 
long time out of water, but taken from the sea and 
put into fresh water, it dies immediately. In Green- 
land it grows to a large size, and is much esteemed 
for soup. 
The Four-horned Cottus, C. quadricornis, called 
also Greenland Bull-Head or Greenland Sculpln^ is 
six to eight inches long, feeds on young gobies, 
which it catches by lying in ambush among stones 
or sea-weeds. It is chiefly used as bait for fishing; common in European and American seas. 
The Common Bull-Head, C. Virginianus^ is regarded by fishermen with aversion, on account 
of its revolting appearance, but it is not 
THTJ FATHER LASHER. 
THE FOUR-HORNED COTTUS 
Genu& ASPIDOPHORUS 
a bad article of food ; it is common on 
our coasts, and bears the popular names 
of Scidpin^ Sea-Robin^ Sea- Toad ^ and 
Pig Fishy the latter from its croaking 
noise when drawn out of the water. 
Other American species are the Bra- 
zen Bull-Head, (7. ceneus, and Smooth- 
Browed Bull-Head, C. MitchilUi, &c. 
Asijidophorus. — To this belongs the Armed Bull-Head, A. 
Europa^us, noted for being completely 
covered with horny scales. It has in 
England the name of Pogge, and in Scot- 
land the various titles of Sea-Poacher^ 
Pluck, and yoble. It is common on all 
the coasts of Europe and Greenland. 
Genus SEBASTES : Sebastes.—To this 
belongs the Bergylt, S. JVorvegicus, some- 
times called Bed Sea-Perch; it is twelve 
to twenty-four inches long ; found in the 
northern seas, south to the coast of Massa- 
chusetts ; is tolerable food ; the spines are 
used in Greenland for needles. 
Genus GASTEROSTEUS : Gastcrosteus. 
— This includes the Sticklebacks, of which 
there are several species. They are of 
small size, usually four or five inches long, 
but are very interesting, inasmuch as they 
approach the birds in the art with which 
they build their nests and the care they 
take of the eggs and young. The labor falls entirely upon the male, who defends his domicile 
THE ARMED BULL-HEAD. 
THE BERGYLT. 
