242 GOBIOID^. 



straight from the centre of the tail, rather below the middle 

 of the fish, forming, with the upper and lower boundaries of 

 the body, three nearly parallel lines. 



The general colour of the body is a mixture of purple 

 brown and yellow brown, sometimes dappled, occasionally 

 assuming a waved or banded appearance. Along the line of 

 the base of the dorsal fin are from nine to twelve conspicuous 

 dark spots with a narrow but well-defined white stripe before 

 and behind, and sometimes encircling each of them : the 

 under surface of the head, the pectoral fins, and belly to 

 the vent, are of a more uniform pale brown ; from the eye a 

 dark brown stripe descends, behind the angle of the mouth, 

 to the lower jaw. The spots described as dark along the 

 back are occasionally not very conspicuous, and specimens 

 sometimes occur in which they are entirely wanting. 



A specimen of a spotted Gunnel from America, for which 

 I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Audubon, proves on 

 comparison to be in every respect so similar to the British 

 Gunnel, that there is little doubt it is the same species. 

 The American specimen measures seven and a quarter inches ; 

 the largest British example I have measures only five and 

 three quarters. 



