248 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



shore. The h'lpunctatus, independent of external charac- 

 ters, differs widely in habits from the rest of the gobies. It 

 frequents the n^.ost rocky situations, where yj/r/ grows in 

 the greatest abundance, and is never found reposing on the 

 sandy bottoms, like the rest of its congeners. It keeps but 

 a short distance from below the surface of the water, appa- 

 rently in a motionless position, assuming, in this respect, 

 much the habits of the Stickleback ; when approached, it 

 gradually lowers itself in the deep, and soon disappears, 

 by making short, though rapid, darts among ihejuci which 

 it delights to frequent. 



This species is easily recognised by having more rays in 

 the first dorsal fin than the other British gobies possess. 

 The G. 7iig-er, G. mhmtns, G. zinipmictatus, and G. gracilis, 

 have six rays in the first fin. G. albus* has but five, where- 

 as the G. bipunctatus has seven in that fin. 



Genus CALLIONYMUS. — Dorsal fins two; ventrals 

 separate, placed under the throat ; body without scales. 



CaLLIONYMUS LYRAt. TuE GeMMEOUS DrAGONET. 



Specific Characters. — First ray of the first dorsal fin elongatedj 

 reaching beyond the last ray of the second dorsal fin. 



Description. — From a specimen seven inclies and a half in length. 

 Head depressed;, elongated ; snout sharp, very protractile ; body 

 elongated, smooth^ without scales ; sides rounded. Colour of the 

 head and sides pale yellow, striped and spotted with blue and 

 white of different shades^ assuming a sappharine appearance ; vent- 

 rals dark purple ; anal and caudal fins bluish-black ; pectorals pel- 

 lucid white ; first dorsal fin beautifully variegated with blue, black, and 

 pale yellow, intermixed with lines of white ; throat dark ; belly cream 

 colour. First dorsal fin commencing a little in advance of the base of 



* Gobius albus, a new species of British Goby — Proceedings of the Boyal 

 Society of Edinburgh, \fi37. 



■y Callionymus lyra, Linn., Cuv., Jen., Yarr., Penn., Gemmcous Dragonet. 

 Yellow Skulpifi, Goudie, Chanticleer. 



