4i ox FISHES DF THE GENUS GOBIUS. 



As will be seeu from these tables, G. micro'ps has 9 or 10, 

 exceptionally 11, rays in the 2nd dorsal and anal, G. minuttos 

 having 11 or 12; the number of scales along the lateral line, 

 liowever, shows no overlap, not exceeding 52 in G. micro2)S and 

 not falling below 61 in G. minvtus. 



I therefore hope I have succeeded in settling the question of 

 the correct name of the Hsh so carefully described by Prof. Guitel, 

 about which he rightly entei-tained some doubts at the time of 

 his observations on its reina.rkable bi-eeding-habits. 



The two forms here discussed have been quite correctly sepa- 

 rated and identified by Messrs. Holt and Byrne ; the only point on 

 which I cannot agree with them is with regnrd to the existence 

 of connec';ing-links, which the examination of a large material 

 has failed to disclose. 



In concluding this note, 1 wish to express my indebtedness to 

 Px'of. Yves Delage for kindly allowing me to work at the Roscoff 

 Laboratory, of which he has the dii'ection. 



Appendix. 



Col. Shepherd, who has devoted much time to the study of 

 otoliths, has examined for me those of the two fishes from RoscofF, 

 and finds their claim to specific distinction confirmed by the 

 difi'erences in this character. 



He has kindly drawn up the following notes, as an appendix to 

 my communication : — 



"Under the microscope the otolith of Gohius microps shows as 

 a quadrilateral liimp Avith fairly equal sides. Two a,re at a right 

 angle, but the angle is rounded off'; a third is bulged out into an 

 outward curve, the foui-th forms an indent. The three sides first 

 mentioned are plain-edged. 



"The otolith oi Gohinsmivntus^how?^ an irregular quadrilateral 

 shape : one side is straight and plain ; the other three sides are 

 not so synnnetrically shaped as in G. microps, and are markedly 

 scalloped, there being six lobes on the edges of the three sides, 

 these lobes not regularly spaced, but of varying size. 



" This would show that the two fishes are different species. 



" The otoliths referred to are in each instance the sagitta." 



