174 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
Length of the body in mm - 
„ ,, „ head in % of the length of the body 
„ „ „ maxillary bones „ „ „ ,, „ „ „ „ . 
„ „ „ lower jaw ' „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ - 
„ ,, „ ventral fins „ „ „ „ ,, ,, „ ,, 
Distance between the ventral fins and the anal fin in % of the length of the body... 
„ „ „ anal fin „ ,, tip of the snout ,, ,, ,, „ „ ,, „ ,, 
Base of the „ „ ,, ,, ,, „ „ „ „ „ 
Least depth of the tail ,, „ ,, „ „ „ „ ,, 
Base of the anal fin in % of the distance between this fin and the tip of the snout 
Length of the ventral fins „ ,, „ „ „ „ their insertion and the anal fin.. 
„ „ „ ,, „ „ ,, „ ,, „ „ the anal fin and the tip of the snout 
Coitus gobio. 
Lake 
Forssa, 
Helsing- 
land, Nov. 
1882. 
Islands 
near 
Stock- 
holm, 
Aug. 
1851. 
Lake 
Forssa, 
Ilelsing- 
land, Nov. 
1882. 
Lake 
Forssa, 
Helsing- 
land, Nov. 
1882. 
Islands 
near 
Stock- 
holm, 
Aug. 
1854. 
Qvick- 
jock 
1860. 
Bjork- 
niis. 
Bjork- 
niis. 
Motala. 
Motala. 
$ 
9 
9 
9 
cf 
9 
9 
cf 
cf 
cf 
72:o 
75.o 
80.5 
89.o 
78.o 
67.5 
68.o 
45.o 
77.5 
93.o 
25,o . 
25.3 
26.o 
25.8 
26.9 
24.i 
26.5 
25.8 
26.6 
28.5 
7.6 
8.5 
8.5 
8.i 
10.6 
7.7 
8.i 
7.7 
9.o 
9.7 
11.5 
11.1 
12.7 
11.2 
13.i 
10.8 
12*i 
11.6 
12.9 
13.3 
17.o 
16.1 
16.2 
15.7 
17.4 
17.4 
19.i 
18.2 
19.3 
20.4 
27.6 
27.4 
24.4 
28.i 
23.i 
21.o 
22.i 
22.2 
23.5 
25.8 
48.6 
48.2 
50.4 
51.i 
50. o 
44.4 
47.i 
44.9 
47.i 
47.3 
23.0 
22.4 
20.8 
21.8 
23.i 
25.5 
25.o 
26.7 
25.8 
25.8 
5.s 
5.6 
5.8 
5.6 
5.8 
5.6 
5.3 
4.7 
5.3 
6.0 
47.4 
46.4 
41.3 
42.6 
46.2 
57.3 
53.i 
59.4 
54.5 
54.5 
61.o 
58.8 
66.0 
56.0 
75.5 
83.i 
86.6 
82.o 
82.4 
79.2 
34.8 
33.4 
32.i 
30.s 
35.o 
39.3 
40.6 
40.6 
41.i 
40.3 
Coitus poecilopus. 
The Alpine Bullhead, which attains a length of 
about 14 cm., is in most respects so like the preceding 
species that a minute description is unnecessary. The 
length of the jaws, the ventral fins and the base of 
the anal tin, which is generally greater in this species, 
and the distance from the tip of the snout to the be- 
ginning of the anal tin, which is generally less, form 
its true characters. The species owes its systematic 
name ( poecilopus , “with variegated foot ’) to the blackish 
transverse bands which usually appear on the ventral 
tins; and in most cases this character holds good, though 
these bands are often indistinct, while in Cottas gobio, 
too, the ventral tins are often spotted with black. In 
all the specimens we have examined, even in the fe- 
males, there are numerous and very distinct, but scat- 
tered, spinous scales on the anterior part of the sides, 
even above the lateral line. We have always found 
the lateral line imperfect, or at least that its openings 
and pores become indistinct at the middle of the second 
dorsal fin and sometimes just behind the beginning of 
this tin; but its usual course to the base of the caudal 
fin is generally indicated by a groove in the skin. In 
this respect, however, Cottas poecilopus does not stand 
alone: the posterior part of the lateral line is indistinct 
and apparently destitute of pores in the generality of 
cases — though to a less extent — in Centr icier michtlrgs 
hamatus, Cottas quadricornis and occasionally in Cottas 
gobio , where, however, it is generally perfect or perhaps 
becomes indistinct for a small part of its course to be 
again continued by distinct pores further back. 
The Swedish name which Lilljeboeg has given 
this species, bergsimpa or ‘Mountain Bullhead’, is really 
founded on the circumstance that it was first described 
as an inhabitant of the mountain torrents among the 
Carpathians — according to a statement of doubtful 
authenticity it also occurs in a similar way among the 
Pyrenees. Its geographical range is, however, far too 
little known as yet to admit of any decided inference 
being drawn from this circumstance, especially as it so 
closely resembles the common River Bullhead even in 
colour and in its habits that the species may well have 
been confused on many occasions where a most careful 
examination has not been made. Lilljeboeg, however, 
rightly points out that it has been found in one of 
the northernmost Swedish lakes, Saggat Mere near 
Qvickjock (Widegeen), in the lakes of Jemtland — where, 
according to Olsson, it is called Stengers (Stone-ruff) 
Lakegers (Burbot-ruff) and LaJcatrubb (Flat-nosed Bur- 
bot) — and in Lake Namm in Smaland (Poeath and 
Theoein), and that Collett assigns only this species, 
and not the preceding one, to the rivers and lakes of 
Norway south of Dovre Field. It would thus appear in 
Scandinavia too, to belong more or less entirely to the 
mountain-regions, though, as Sundevall has shown, it 
lives together with Cottas gobio in the island- belts of 
the Baltic. That it also occurs in England, appears 
from Day’s figure which we have mentioned above, 
and which is drawn from a specimen caught in the 
Chern, one of the upper tributaries of the Thames. 
