a04 THE RIVER GOBY. 



The back is of a yellow colour, variegated with three 

 or four tranfverfe patches of black. The mouth as well 

 as the headjg is difproportionablj large : The perioral fins 

 are broad and rounded ; the ventral extremely fmall, 

 having only four rays *. The anal, and two dorfal, are 

 larger than ufukl in fiflies of the fame fize. There is a 

 fpecies found in the lakes upon the continent, of ftill an 

 inferior magnitude to our river bull- head, and of a bright- 

 er colour. 



The armed bull-head, or pogge, as it is called in the 

 north of England^ is an inhabitant of the fea, much 

 larger than the fpecies noticed, and formidable, as well 

 as hideous in its appeai'ance. It is near a foot in length j 

 the head triangular, and armed with a number of Iharp 

 tubercles upon each fide ; the fnout is flat, and turned 

 up, armed alfo on the point with four ftrong curvated 

 pikes ; below the chin are a number of cirti^ forming a 

 copious beard, which adds to the threatening afpeft of 

 this animal. The body, from the head, a confiderable 

 way down, is of an oftagonal fhape ; nearthe tail it be- 

 comes hexagonal, and is entirely covered with large bo* 

 ny fcales, which give the body its angular form *. 



* Willough. page 137. \ Willowgh. page %\'J> 



