BLACK GOBY. 253 



racter, are connected, forming a funnel-shaped appendage 

 of twelve branched rays ; and the anus is furnished with an 

 elongated tubercle. We never could discover that the 

 Black Goby ventured into fresh water, and with us cer- 

 tainly spawns in the sea. With respect to the union of 

 the ventral fins, it would seem to be for the purpose of 

 forming an instrument of adhesion ; but in no instance have 

 we observed that they adhered either to rocks, or to the 

 bottom of the glass vessel in which they have been kept 

 alive for several days."" — Montagu's MS. 

 The number of fin-rays are — 



D. 6. 17. : P. 17 : V. 12 : A. 12 : C. 15. 



The lower jaw is the longest, with fine carding-like teeth 

 in several rows ; the tongue square at the end ; gill-apertures 

 small ; behind the vent a small conical tubercle. The 

 adult fish are from five to six inches in length. They 

 spawn in May or June, depositing the ova on stones. The 

 young are to be seen abundant in summer ; and are lighter 

 in colour, particularly on their under surface. They are 

 to be found on various parts of the coast from Cornwall 

 to the Orkneys. Mr. Couch has observed a peculiarity 

 in the habits of the Black Goby, in which it resembles the 

 Shanny, — that of carrying oflf its prey in its mouth to a 

 resting-place, and there struggling with it. The Gohius 

 niger of Mr. Donovan and Dr. Fleming appears to be 

 distinct from the G. niger of authors, and identical with 

 the G. hipunctatus of this work, the species next to be 

 described. 



The Black Goby inhabiting the rocky parts of our coast 

 is called Rock Goby and Rock-fish, to distinguish it from 

 the other British species of this genus, which frequent 



