336 THE KErUODUCTlON OF TELEOSTEAN FISHES 



and G. pagancllus by the apex, which is bluntly rounded in the former 

 and more or less acutely pointed in the latter. Spawn, evidently that 

 of G. 2Jaga7icllus, has been found on several occasions, at Easter and in 

 the early summer of 1897, attached to various objects between tide- 

 marks on Drake's Island. 



Gobius pictus. Malm. 



The ova of G. minutus and G. Ruthcnsparri have been frequently 

 observed at Plymouth, but require no further description than is 

 afforded by the admirable memoirs of Guitel* and Petersen. t It is, 

 perhaps, worthy of remark that males and females of the former 

 species have been taken by one of us in full breeding condition during 

 the first week of September of this year at Newquay, Cornwall. At 

 Plymouth G. minutus begins to spawn at least as early as April. 



So far as we are aware Mr. A. 0. Walker is the only observer who 

 has noticed (in Colwyn Bay) the occurrence of Gohius pictus in British 

 waters (cf. Day, Fish. Gt. Brit., i., p. 108), although it is quite possible 

 that the species may have been recorded under other names. It is 

 by no means rare on sandy and muddy ground, and among algse 

 and zostera in Plymouth Sound (Cattewater, Jennycliff Bay, N.E. of 

 Drake's Island), and in Cawsand Bay. A single specimen has been 

 taken in Bigbury Bay, and probably a little attention would show 

 that the species occurs on many parts of our coasts. 



We have not observed ova taken directly from the parent, but 

 consider that this species is probably responsible for some spawn 

 attached to a Pecten shell trawled near the Batten Breakwater on 

 the 12th May, 1898. In dimensions and shape the ova approach 

 the condition of G. microps {cf. Petersen, op. cit., p. o, tav. i. b.. Fig. 11), 

 a form closely allied to G. pictus, but unrepresented, so far as we can 

 determine, in our district. The egg measures '81 mm. in height. 

 As in G. microps, it is swollen near the base, the greatest breadth being 

 *63 mm. Distaliy the lateral outline is somewhat cumpressed, while 

 the apex, sometimes rounded, is usually very slightly acuminate. 

 The shape is, therefore, intermediate between that of G. Ruthcnsjwrri 

 and that of G. microps, but nearest to the latter. A newly-hatched 

 larva measured 2"68 mm. in total length. The pigment differs from 

 that of G. minutus in that yellow and black chromatophores extend 

 in almost unbroken series along the dorsum and ventrum, to a point 

 near the caudal extremity. Petersen gives no detailed description 



♦ Arch. Zool. Krpcr., S. II., x., 1892 ; S. III., iii., 1895. 



t Op. cit. The ova iiiid l^iva of G. minutus have also been described by one of us in 

 Ann. Ma'j. Nut. Hid., S. VI., ItJiiO, p. 30. 



