THE DOUBLY-SPOTTED GOBY. 247 



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

 Body rounded, compressed towards the base of the tail ; flattened 

 on the summit of the head ; dorsal line nearly straight, slightly raised 

 over the pectorals ; operculum and preoperculum rounded ; under 

 jaw the longest. Colour of the back and sides dark reddish-brown, 

 crossed with dark lines taking ojiposite directions ; dorsal and cau- 

 dal fins barred with light reddish-brown ; ventral and anal fins white ; 

 lateral line marked by nine or ten light blue spots, placed at equal 

 distances from each other ; a large black spot under the second and 

 third rays of the first dorsal fin, partly concealed by the upper rays 

 of the pectorals ; a similar spot at the base of the caudal rays. First 

 dorsal fin commencing in a line over the upper thirds of the pecto- 

 rals, and ending in a line over the vent ; the second, third, and fourth 

 rays the longest, all simple and flexible ; second dorsal fin com- 

 mences in a line over the anal tubercle, and ends over the last ray of 

 the anal fin ; the second ray the longest, the rest gradually decreas- 

 ing in height ; all the rays branched except the first ; tail rounded at 

 the end ; anal fin corresponding with the second dorsal, but com- 

 mencing rather further back ; ventrals united together, forming but 

 one fin, all the rays branched except the two first ; the middle rays 

 the longest, reaching to the vent ; pectorals not as long as the vent- 

 rals, reaching as far as in a line under the sixth ray of the dorsal. 

 Eyes placed high on the head ; teeth small and sharp, placed in two 

 rows in each jaw, none on the tongue, vomer, or palatines. Scales 

 large for the size of the fish, finely ciliated at their free margin. 

 Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 7 ; 2d D. 11 ; P. 18 ; V. 12 ; A. 11 ; C. 12 ; B. 5. 



This fish was considered by Donovan to be identical with 

 the G. niger of Linnaeus, and he figured it as such in his 

 work on the British Fishes; but Mr Yarrell has since very 

 clearly proved it to be a distinct species, differing widely 

 from those found on the British coast, and from the fact of 

 its possessing two conspicuous black spots on each side of 

 the body, suggested to him the characteristic name of bi- 

 punctatus. It appears to have an extensive range, and 

 has been found on the Belfast, Cornish, Devon.shire, and 

 Dorsetshire coasts. Dr Johnston has observed it at Ber- 

 wick, and I have repeatedly taken it at the mouth of 

 the Firth of Forth as well as at Largo, on the opposite 



