240 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



temporal and niasseter muscles, and broad and short molars, 

 is enabled to grind to pieces the largest crab with the 

 greatest facility. It is common in all the rocky parts of 

 the Firth of Forth, is often found on the haddock lines, 

 and occasionally taken in the salmon-nets above Queens- 

 ferry. About June the young are two feet in length, and 

 are sold in the market for sixpence each. The appearance 

 of this fish is not yery prepossessing in the sight of those 

 who are not aware of its quality as food ; but if properly 

 dressed and disguised by the head being cut off, it is con- 

 sidered equal to many of the marine fishes. The stomach 

 is remarkably thin and transparent like that of most fish 

 which are furnished with strong and powerful grinders. 



Genus GOBIUS. — Dorsal fins two ; ventrals joined to- 

 gether forming a hollow disk, placed under the thorax ; 

 body with scales. 



GoBius NIGER.* — The Black Gobv. 



Specific Characters. — Dorsal fins contiguous ; first fin with six rays, 

 the third and fourth rays the longest ; second fin with all the rays 

 equal. (See PI. XXIX.) 



Description. — From a specimen four inches and a half in length. 

 Head one-fourth of the length as far as half way down the caudal 

 rays; dorsal line straight; profile rounded; abdomen prominent; sides 

 behind slightly compressed. Colour of the whole fish dusky-brown, 

 darker on the dorsal region, more or less mixed with spots and 

 streaks ; the summit of the first dorsal fin darker than the rest of the 

 membrane. Preoperculum rounded ; operculum slightly produced 

 at its upper and posterior margin. First dorsal fin commencing in a 

 line a little behind the origin of the pectorals, and terminating in a 

 line over the vent ; the third and. fourth rays the longest; like the 

 rest of the rays in that fin^, spiny and extremely flexible. Second 

 dorsal commencing close behind the first, slightly connected to it by 

 a fine membrane, ending in a line over the last ray of tlie anal fin ; 

 all the rays except the first branched and flexible, and nearly of equal 



'' Gftttms niffi'i; Ciiv., Yai-r., Jen,, Mont. B/nck Gohy, Rock-fish. 



