218 Mr. E. Shann on the Life-history and 



the gobies is the important part they take in the diet of the 

 food-fishes. 



The material at my disposal was for the most part collected 

 by Professor M'Intosh during trawling and other expeditions 

 in the years 1886-95. The fishes were preserved in spirit ; 

 thus, though they were decolorized, both the skeletal and soft 

 parts were well preserved. The collection contains specimens 

 of G. minutus from all parts of the east coast of Scotland, 

 and taken at various seasons of the year. There are also a 

 number of specimens of G. flavescens (olitn ntthensparri) 

 collected during the same period. Both these species are 

 common in St. Andrews Bay, the former on a sandy bottom 

 usually near land, the latter among the rock-pools. I am 

 indebted to Dr. Williamson for the loan of a collection of 

 gobies belonging to the S. F. B., also to Mr. Richard 

 Elmhirst, Millport Marine Station, for several specimens of 

 G. minutus from the Clyde area. The majority of this 

 collection were preserved in formaline ; so that, though the 

 colouring in many cases remained, the otoliths and often the 

 scales were entirely missing. This was unfortunate, because 

 the evidence of the latter structures was required to corrobo- 

 rate observations on the rate of growth. My obligations are 

 due to Dr. Tosh for some notes which he had formerly made 

 on the same collection of gobies, and which he put at my 

 disposal. Finally, I have to thank Professor M'Intosh, who 

 has throughout my work offered many helpful suggestions 

 and kindly criticisms. 



General Ovtline of Life-history. 



The spawning of G. minutus has been described by 

 M'Intosh and Masterman *, also by Holt and Byrne f, and 

 the eggs by the same authors. In this paper little or no 

 reference will be made to that part of the subject, the inquiry 

 having been instituted to describe the young forms captured 

 in various localities, and particularly in St. Andrews Bay, 

 and approximately to ascertain their ages. The first spawning 

 of G. minutus appears to take place about the middle of 

 April, for larval forms 5*5 mm. in length have been obtained 

 at Station IV., Moray Firth, on May 2nd. Larval forms 

 occur not infrequently in September; as an instance, four 



* ' British Marine Food-Fishes,' p. 168. 



f Report on the Sea and Inland Fisheries of Ireland for 1901, part ii. 

 p 53. 



