WHITE GOBY. ^7 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. GOBIOWJE. 



THE WHITE GOBY. 



Gobius albus. 



Gobhis albus, The White Goby, Parnell, Transactions of the Royal Society 

 of Edinburgh, vol. xiv. 



This species of Goby, Dr. Parnell observes, " holds such 

 a conspicuous place in the genus, that it cannot well be mis- 

 taken for any other. I first noticed it in the Solway Firth, 

 in June 1836, where I obtained in one day, after the recess 

 of the tide, fifty specimens. They are evidently the fry of a 

 large species. When first taken from the water they are soft 

 and transparent ; the eyes are large and prominent ; the scales 

 which cover their body are large, thin, and very deciduous. 

 The length is about two inches ; the head is large ; the gape 

 is wide ; the teeth are long and sharp, placed in a single row 

 in each jaw. The first dorsal fin commences over the ante- 

 rior third of the pectorals ; the second dorsal fin commences 

 over the vent, and ends opposite to the base of the last anal 

 rays. The cheeks are tumid ; the border of the operculum 

 rounded ; the body is transparent, and marked by a number 

 of fine depressed lines, placed in an oblique direction ; the 

 lateral line is straight throughout its length. The number 

 of the fin-rays are — 



D. 5. 13 : P. 16 : V. 13 : A. 13 : C. 12. 



