In this paper the writer deals with the life history and habits of the sculpin, Trachidermus fasciatus Heckel, vernacular name: "Yama-no-kami”(MountainWitch).Most of the data were obtained in the Rivers Chikugo and Yabe as well as in Ariake Sound, Kyushu. The distribution of this fish in Japan is very restricted, namely to Chikugo River and several adjoining streams which empty into the innermost part of Ariake Sound. It occurs in West Corea and North China. (1) It inhabits usually the upper and middle part of the stream and is often found under rocks or stones which provide shelter. It prefers crustaceans throughout the life. (2) In the winter, when the spawning season approaches, the nuptial coloration appears in the adult fish, both in male and female, the gill-membranes and the base of the anal fin becoming brightly scarlet. The spawning migration takes place from November to December, when it runs down the stream at night. The spawning season is from January to March, and the spawning takes place on the sandy tidal flat of the innermost part of Ariake Sound. The masses of the eggs are laid in the empty shell of a large bivalve, Atrina japonica(Reeve), and are guarded by a male parent during the incubation period. The majority of the spawning fish are those of two years, a few spawning at the end of one year. Most parent fish seem to die after spawning. (3) The egg is orange-red in color, demersal and adherent, 2.0～2.2mm in diameter. The number of eggs in a mass ranged from 5,110 to 6,120. The number of the eggs carried a by an adult female varied from about 5,000 to 11,000. The larva carries pelagic life in the estuary for several months and later ascends the stream in a shoal. The young fish sets in a solitary bottom life. In one month it attains about 20mm in total length; in thre months 40～60mm; in full one year100～120mm; in full two years about 160mm long. It attains a length of about 170mm, and the male is a little larger than the female. (4) It is said by the fishermen of this destrict that the descending migration of this fish denotes the end of the freshwater fishery in the year. Its flesh is firm and sweet, though it is not so highly valued as food fish in Japan as in China.
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