SOME NEW SPECIES OF SCOTTISH FISHES. I43 



Crenilabrus cornubicus, Yarrell, vol. i. — Goldsinny. 



Specific Character. — A black spot at the base of the tail, under the caudal ex- 

 tremity of the lateral line. 



This fish is occasionally met with in rocky situations. It is seldom found 

 to exceed the length of six inches. Rondeletius has figured this fish, page 179, 

 in his work De Piscibus Marinis. It has been confounded by Yarrell with the 

 goldsinny of Jago, which is the Lutjanus rupestris of Bloch. 



Leuciscus dobula, Yarrell, vol. ii. — SkeUie, or Dobule Roach. 



Specific Character. — Dorsal and anal fins even at the end. 



A single individual of this species was obtained by Mr Yarrell, in the 

 Thames, in August 1831. No other instance of its capture in Britain has hitherto 

 been recorded. In July last, I was surprized in finding the Dobule roach a common 

 fish in many of the bums faUing into the Solway Frith. It exists in the River 

 Annan in great mmibers aU the year round ; and a few are occasionally found 

 entangled in the salmon-nets in the Solway Frith. In the county of Dumfries, 

 these fish are named skellies, and have been mistaken by naturaUsts for the com- 

 mon roach {Leuciscus rutilus). They do not appear shy, or in the least choice as 

 to their food ; they take eagerly the minnow, the worm, and the fly, and afford 

 excellent amusement to the angler. In the month of April they are in the best 

 condition for the table, but are seldom eaten, their flesh being white and insipid. 

 SkeUies are sometimes taken of the weight of five pounds or more, although Mr 

 Jenyns, in his work on the British Vertebrate Animals, states, that they seldom 

 exceed the weight of half a pound. According to Mr Yarrell, this species in- 

 habits the Oder, the Elbe, and the Rhine ; it frequents large lakes, and is observed 

 to enter rivers, from March till May, for the purpose of depositing its spawn. 



The Dobule roach is very much allied to the common roach and to the dace, 

 differing from them, however, in the following characters : — 



Leuciscus dobula. Leuciscus rutilus. 



Dorsal and anal fins even at the end. Dorsal and anal fins concaved at the 



end. 



The middle ray of the tail more than The middle ray of the tail not half 



half as long as the longest ray of the as long as the longest ray of the same 



same fin. fin. 



Lateral line with fifty scales. Lateral line with forty-three scales. 



Dorsal fin with nine rays. Dorsal fin with eleven rays. 



Leuciscus dobula. Leuciscus vulgaris. 

 Seven scales and a half in an obhque Eight scales and a half in an obhque 

 row between the dorsal fin and the late- row between the dorsal fin and the late- 

 ral Mne. ral line. 



