ccxxxii Ltcodid^. PISHES. BiiENNiiDa!. 
Family— LYCODID^. 
'Pile genus Gymnelis, species viridis (Eeinliardt), 
is from the Polar regions. 
VAHL’S LYCODES [Lycodes vahli, Reirih.) is found 
in Greenland waters. Otlier species of Lycodes re- 
corded are: L. reticulatus, Reinh.; L. jierspicillnin, 
Kroyer (Spotted Lycodes); L. seininiidus, Reinh.; 
L. nebulosus, Kroyer (Cloudy Lycodes); L. inuco- 
sus, Rich. (Slimy Lycodes), and L. polaris (Sabine), 
Rich. (Arctic Lycodes) ; all from Greeidand waters. 
CONGER EEL [Zoarces anguillaris [Reclc), Storer). 
—Called, also, JIel-pout and Lamper Eel. Is found 
from Newfoundland to Hatteras. IleKay recoi'ds 
this as 'I'hicklipped Eel-pout, and Storer as the 
Eel-suaped Blenny. The latter says : “'I'his spe- 
cies sometimes attains a size of three and a half feet. 
It is seldom met with in the Boston market. When 
young its flesh is very sweet and palatable.” This 
Fish feeds on various marine shells, and affords a 
very savory food. According to Cuvier it has one 
hundred and thirty-seven vertebras. 
Family— CRY PTACAN'I’HID.E. 
GHOST-FISH [Gryptacanthodes maculatus, Storer). 
— Called, also, AVry-moutii. Found from Nova Scotia 
to Cape Cod. Dr. Storer, who first noticed this Fish, 
says the first specimen met with was said to have 
been taken in Boston Harbor, and measured about 
twenty-one inches long. Another was taken at Na 
hant. A third was taken from the stomach of a 
Haddock. Its generic name is selected to express 
l.he presence of a concealed spine, the operculum 
and other adjacent parts having numerous spine-like 
points. DeKay calls it Spotted Wry-moutii, and 
says it is a very curious and rare species. A si)e- 
cies (C. inornatus) — called, also, Short-fish, and in 
Maine, Conger Eel — has the same range. 
Family— STI CH ATI) /E. 
LITTLE CUSK [Exmesogrummus sitiMfurcains 
[Storer), Gill). — So called in Maine. Its habitat is 
from Nova Scotia to Cape Cod. Another species 
— E. prmcisns (Kroyer), Gill — is found in Green- 
land. The following species of this family are fi'oin 
the Greenland waters: Stichaius punctatus (Fab.), 
Reinh.; Leptoclinus aculeatus (Reinh.), Gill.; Ani- 
sarchus inedius (Reinh.), Gill ; Lumpinus fabrici, 
Reinh.; Leptoblemiius gracilis (Stuvitz), Gill ; Cen- 
troblennius nubilns (Rich.), Gill. Leptoblemiius ser- 
pentinus (Storer), Gill, is described and figured by 
Storer, who first noticed it from a specimen sent him 
from Cape Cod. It is called by him Snake-shaped 
Blenny (Blennius serpentinus). 
Family— XI PHIDION'I’IDAK. 
BANDED BUTTER-FISH [Murcenoides fasciatus 
[Schrieider) , Gill). — Inhabits Greenland waters. 
COMMON BUTTER-FISH (M. mueronatns [Mitch.], 
Gill). — 'I’his is found from Nova Scotia to Hatteras. 
Gill marks it as a doubtful species. Under the head 
Spinous Ophidium (Ophidium inucronatum), Mit- 
chill describes and figures this species, which he says 
was caught in the salt-water at Brooklyn. Storer 
figures it as Butter-fish (Gunnellus), and says it is 
common at Nahant and southward to Holmes’ Hole, 
and probably along the entire coast. It is found at 
low tide beneath the stones, and is ivitli difficulty 
held in the hand on account of the extraordinary 
amount of mucus which covers it; hence the name. 
DeKay calls it the American Butter-fish. 
THE BIG-HEADED GUNNEL [M. mncrocephalus 
[Gir.), Gill). — 'I'his is marked by Gill as doubtful. 
Storer says the specimen from which he took the 
description was taken alive by Mr. Girard from a 
sand pool on Chelsea Beach at low tide. JM. ingeus 
(Storer), Gill, is a doubtful species found in Labrador. 
Asternopteryx guimelliformis, Ruppell, is recorded 
by Dr. Gill as Greenland (?). 
Family— ANARRHICHADID a;. 
WOLF-FISH [Anarrhichm vomer inus [Ag.), Storer). 
— Alarked doubtful species. Called Cat-fish in 
New England, and Kigutilik in Greenland. Mit- 
cliill calls it Sea-wolf (A. lupus), and remarks; 
“No use seems to be made of them, notwithstanding 
the vast numbers taken. Yet it is reputed as good 
food. 'I'he Greeidanders eat it fresh, and also as a 
dried fish.” We were impressed with the enormous 
waste of this Fish which formerly occurred at the 
fishing-beaches near Boston, and determined to set 
the example of using the Cat-fish — as the species is 
called there — for food. Its flesh is so white and 
sweet, being somewhat like that of the Cod, there 
seemed to be no I'easonable excuse I'or rejecting it. 
Our experience induced some of the fish-hawkers of 
Swampscott to retail it in the streets of Lynn and 
Salem, where it has since been regularly served. 
Storer says : “It is a. ferocious Fish, weighing from 
five to twenty-five pounds, captured about the rocky 
ledges at all seasons of the year, though greater 
numbers are taken in winter than at other times.” 
DeKay says : “ It prefers rocky coasts, and is said 
to spawn in May. 'I'hey are not unfrequently taken 
off Rockaway Beach, in conqiany with the Common 
Cod. In high latitudes it attains the length of 
eight feet.” According to Richardson, the Common 
Sea-wolf “ inhabits the North Sea, being common 
enough as low as the French coast. On the Green- 
land coast it is associated with the Common Lump- 
fish, migrating along with it. It spawns in Alay 
in the larger sea-weeds, a short way from shore.” 
A. steenstrupi (Gill), and A. denticulatus (Small- 
toothed AVolf-fish), are found in Greenland waters. 
Family-BLEN NHD /E. 
'I'he Blennies were known to Pliny, and Artedi in- 
troduces the generic term Blennius, which, by an 
extended signification, has a Greek derivation, mean- 
ing jwwcws, from the “soft and indolent character of 
the Fish.” 'I’he remarkable secretion of mucus from 
their bodies is characteristic. 'I’he males are decor- 
ated with soft pnpilla;. which are absent in the females. 
