101 



ONE-SPOTTED GOBY. 



Gobius unipunctatus, Yaeeell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 292. 



I HAVE not met with this species on the rocky coast with 

 which I am best acquainted, but examples have been obtained 

 from Weston-super-Mare, on the Bristol Channel, by E. T. 

 Higgins, Esq., and kindly sent for my use. It was first made 

 known by Dr. Parnell, who procured it on the coast of Scotland, 

 in the shallow water of sandy bays; but beyond this little 

 seems to be known of its peculiar habits, except perhaps a 

 circumstance that will be mentioned presently, if the species 

 should chance be the same. 



The example described measured tAvo Inches and seven eighths 

 in length; the shape not greatly compressed, deepest at the 

 first dorsal fin, and from thence becoming more slender to the 

 tail. Eyes of moderate size, high on the cheek, near each 

 other, but not in contact. The snout not sloping so much to 

 the mouth as in the three last-mentioned species. Under jaw 

 longest; teeth conspicuous. Scales on the body distinctly 

 seen. The first dorsal fin rises at about half the length of 

 the pectoral, the rays elevated, and the membrane passing far 

 back beyond the last ray. Pectoral ending opposite the last 

 ray of the first dorsal, upper rays shortest. The two dorsals 

 widely apart; the first ray of the anal slightly in advance of 

 the second dorsal, and the two ending opposite each other at a 

 considerable distance from the tail; the latter fin but slightly 

 rounded; the ventral fins reach to the vent. 



The colour is a pale brown along the back, from which in 

 one example proceeded several bands of a fainter colour; the 

 fins also were of the general colour of the body, and on the 

 second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins were three or four darker 



