COW-FACED SCULPIN. | 993 
is there to watch them is irresistible; for it returns to them after being driven away, 
and stays on guard from the time the eggs are laid in gen until they are hatched in 
July. 
‘The eggs are laid near the shore in shallow water, but the fish seems to have fore- 
thought; for they are never laid above the low water mark of July, hence in April or 
May one must look in deeper water for them than in July. 
‘‘ When the eggs are laid they are mingled with a clear, thick substance like the white 
of egg; but thissubstance hardens almost as soon as if is brought in contact with water, 
and is a true hydraulic cement, serving to fasten the eggs firmly together, and to attach 
them to whatever they are pressed against. So firmly does this cement hold the eggs, 
that they will be broken before separating from each other or from the stone to which 
the cluster is attached. 
‘‘Now, if the eggs in the middle of the cluster should hatch first, the fishes would not 
only find it hard to get out, but would loosen the cluster from the stone.’ This does not 
occur, but first the outside layer of eggs hatches, and then the next, and so on till all 
are hatched. It may seem strange that eggs laid at one time should not all hatch 
together ; but observation has shown that heat hastens and cold retards the hatching of 
the eggs of cold blooded animals as well as those having warm blood. The order in 
which the Star Gazer’s eggs are hatched becomes intelligible from what has just been 
said, when it is remembered that the outside layer of eggs is constantly laved by the 
surrounding water, and is first warmed by it, while the deeper layers are not so soon 
affected.” 
This species is occasionally taken with the hook in our clear streams. 
It bites readily, and is, in its way, voracious. In the aquarium its 
movements are interesting, much like those of the Darters; but it is 
unable to endure foul water. It is too small to be used for food. The 
largest specimens we have seen have been taken in cave streams, in 
which waters the species is especially abundant. It does not, however, 
go far into the caves, and its eyes are fully developed. 
} 
162. URANIDBA spiILoTa Cope. 
Cowefaced Sculpin. 
Uranidea spilota, Cops, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1865, 82.—Bran, Proc. U. S. Nat. 
Mus., 1881, 127. | : 
Cottopsis spilotus, JORDAN, Bull. U. S: Nat. Mus., x, 1877, 1, and Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 
Phila , 1877, 61. — 
Tauridea spilota, JORDAN and Rics, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 1878, 225. 
Cottopsis ricet; NELSON, Ball. Ills. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1876. 
Description —Body moderately elongate, depressed, the head especially so, quite 
abruptly contracted opposite the base of anal, the body behind head nearly as deep 
as wide; body behind the vent rather slender, subterete, giving a tadpole-Jike form; 
jaws about equal, the lower narrower, but projecting in front; mouth rather contracted, 
the maxillary scarcely reaching to eye; palatine teeth; eye 44 in head, half wider than 
the interorbital space, about equal to snout ; eyes close together, entirely superior; head 
very broad and flat, as broad or broader than long, including the perpendicular spines, 
63 
