158 THE WEEVER FAMILY. 



forward, and the upper jaw has a well-marked notch in the 

 centre. Five long and strong spines guard the front margin of 

 the gill-cover (pre-operculum) as in Coitus, the second from 

 above being the strongest. They are sheathed in skin almost 

 to the tip, and thus from their conical shape are very con- 

 spicuous. Two spines, as in Gottus, occur 011 the gill-cover 

 proper (operculurn), the upper, long and powerful, directed 

 backward and very slightly downward, and a shorter inferior 

 spine slanting downward and very slightly backward, and 

 therefore at a considerable angle to the former. Two spines 

 project just above the upper angle of the gill-slit. None 

 occurs over the eyes. The breast- fins are elongated, and seem to 

 have undergone a rotation downward, so that the angle formed 

 by the rays with the lateral line, is small. So far as can be 

 observed, the lower agree in structure with the upper rays. 

 The large fan-shaped pelvic (ventral) fins stand boldly out from 

 the prominent median keel, and their bases are distinctly in 

 front of the breast-fins ; while they are deeply tinted with black 

 pigment both dorsally and ventrally. The spine is well- 

 developed, but is sheathed in skin to the point. The contour 

 of the belly, as seen from below, differs much from that of the 

 young Cottus, since it forms only a small swelling behind the 

 large pelvic fins ; whereas in the latter the large tumid 

 abdomen is conspicuous the pelvic fins forming minute pro- 

 cesses at the anterior border. Moreover a somewhat V-shaped 

 mass of black pigment, with the angle directed forward, occurs 

 in the middle line immediately behind the pelvic fins. The 

 first dorsal fin is black, with the first three spines well-developed, 

 but sheathed in skin almost to the tip. It is joined by mem- 

 brane to the second dorsal, the short spines in this part being 

 still covered. The second dorsal and anal resemble those in the 

 adult. A young Crustacean parasite adheres to the anterior 

 surface of the right breast-fin. 



Precisely similar forms about 14 mm. in length were obtained 

 by Mr H. C. Williamson at Naples in May. 



In a specimen (in spirit) measuring about 26 mm. (1 inch) 

 the chief changes are in the pigment and the proportionally 

 larger size of the body. The black pigment now has a tendency 



