272 GOB1AD.E. 



straight from the centre of the tail, rather below the middle 

 of the fish, forming, with the upper and lower boundaries of 

 the body, three nearly parallel lines. 



The general colour of the body is a mixture of purple 

 brown and yellow brown, sometimes dappled, occasionally 

 assuming a waved or banded appearance. Along the line of 

 the base of the dorsal fin are from nine to twelve conspicuous 

 dark spots with a narrow but well-defined white stripe before 

 and behind, and sometimes encircling each of them : these 

 dark spots are sometimes situated on the dorsal fin, in 

 some specimens they are on the back of the fish, below 

 the base of the dorsal fin, and occasionally they occupy 

 an intermediate situation, being partly on the back, and 

 with the upper part on the fin ; the under surface of the 

 head, the pectoral fins, and belly to the vent, are of a more 

 uniform pale brown ; from the eye a dark brown stripe de- 

 scends, behind the angle of the mouth, to the lower jaw. 

 The spots described as dark along the back are occasionally 

 not very conspicuous, and specimens sometimes occur in 

 which they are entirely wanting. 



A specimen of a Spotted Gunnel from America, for which 

 I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Audubon, proves on 

 comparison to be in every respect so similar to the British 

 Gunnel, that there is little doubt it is the same species. 

 The American specimen measures seven and a quarter inches ; 

 the largest British example I have measures only five and 

 three quarters, but they are occasionally found of greater 

 length. This species was first described and figured by Wil- 

 lughby, page 115, tab. G. 3, fig. 3, from a specimen obtained 

 at St. Ives. 



