PLATE XXXV. 
Tills fish Is a very general inhabitant of rocky shores in all the 
northern parts of Europe and Siberia. On our coasts it is seldom 
found above six or eight inches in length, but we have seen them 
rather exceeding the length of a foot; and in the North Seas, the 
Greenlanders, with whom it is a principal article of food, in general 
take them of a far greater size. 
The Sea Scorpion is a very variable fish In its colours, lurks under 
stones or among the sea weeds, and feeds on crabs and small fish. 
The head is furnished with many strong and sharply pointed spines, 
which it is capable of exerting in a very formidable manner. It 
will follow Sharks and other voracious fish with the greatest temerity, 
lashing and wounding them with these spines, and effectually drive 
them from those places where it is accustomed to haunt itself. To 
the Blenny, as before said, it is a desperate enemy. 
When the mouth is closed the upper jaw projects considerably be- 
yond the lower one, but this latter it is capable of advancing in order 
to take its prey. In the first dorsal fin are eight strong rays : in the 
second fourteen: pectoral nine; ventral three; anal eleven: ami 
caudal fourteen. 
