DOUBLY-SPOTTED GOBY. 285 



ACANTHOPTERYG1I. GOB1AD&. 



THE DOUBLY-SPOTTED GOBY. 



Cabins Rutliensparri, Cuv. et VALENC. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. xii. p. 48. 

 ,, bipunctalus, YAH HELL, Brit. Fishes, vol. i. p. 255. 

 ,, niger, Black Goby, DON. Brit. Fish.pl. 104. 



,, FLEM.Brit. An. p. 206, sp. 117. 



,, bipunctutus, Two-spotted Goby, JEN T YNS, Brit. Vert. p. 386. 



THE little Goby "which forms the subject of the present 

 article has been considered identical with Gobius niger by 

 some authors, and by others has apparently not been distin- 

 guished from Gobius minutus. As this species is not un- 

 common, and is widely distributed, it has been obtained by 

 various collectors ; and few that have had the opportunity of 

 comparing it side by side with G. niger and minutns, but 

 have been convinced that it was distinct from both. This, at 

 least, was the opinion of several to whom specimens were 

 shown. As I was unable to reconcile any of the existing 

 descriptions of this fish, I had ventured to propose for it the 

 name which its two conspicuous and constant spots on each 

 side suggested, till the publication of the twelfth volume 

 of the work first quoted above supplied the name which had 

 been previously applied to this species by Euphrasen. 



I have received specimens from Belfast, by the kindness 



