THE OXE-Sl'OTTEU GOBY. 117 



them by Mr. Jenyns' description of Gob. gracilis, with which they in all respects 

 agree." — Zool. Proc, 1837. 



" Upon examination of eighteen specimens — seven from the coast of Down, 

 six from Louth, and five from Cork — of the Gobius which until lately has been 

 considered G. minutus, I found one individual from Down and another from 

 Louth to be the G. gracilis of Mr. Jenyns (p. 387). These specimens are dis- 

 tinguished from those of the G. minutus by having the ' rays of the 2nd dorsal 

 longer : these rays also gradually increasing in length instead of decreasing , the 

 posterior ones being the longest in the fin ; ' and by having the ' rays of the 

 anal in like manner longer than in the G. minutus;' also in ' the anal and ven- 

 tral fins, which are dusky, approaching to black in some places instead of plain 

 white, as in the G. minutus.' In addition to this diflerence in the colour of the 

 fins, my specimens of G. gracilis have more black on the body generally than 

 those of G. minutus, being so different in this respect as to have attracted my 

 attention when they were first obtained." — Anii. Nat. Hist., vol. i. p. 356. 



"Dublin, June, 1838. — In the collection of my friend Robert Ball, LL.D., of 

 this city, there are two specimens of Gobius gracilis about 3 inches in length, 

 from Youghal. On closely comparing them with individuals of Gobius minutus 

 of equal size, the differences in so far as they are above mentioned are very ob- 

 vious ; but further, as in those before examined, I cannot perceive any constant 

 characters. "^/6ic?. vol. ii. 



It should be mentioned that the A. fin, when lying close to the body, is 

 black in these specimens. 



The One-spotted Goby, Gobius unipundntus, Parnell, 



Has been obtained in the North and South. 



" I have obtained this on the North-East coast of Ireland ; and in Dr. R. 

 Ball's collection there is a specimen 3 inches in length, which was procured at 

 Glendore (County Cork) by Dr. Geo. J. Allman. Although well-marked indi- 

 viduals of G. unipunctcttus may appear specifically diflerent from G. gracilis 

 and G. mimitus, yet from having remarked some specimens intermediate in 

 character between the two first mentioned, I am led to doubt whether in these 

 days of refinement the old Gobius minutu.^ has not been multiplied into too 

 many species." — TT^. T. in Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. v. p. 9. 



In August, 1847, I received from Dr. J. L. Drummond a specimen of 

 the G. hipunctatus, and also one of the G. unipunctatus, taken by him in 

 the previous month of May, at Port-Bannatyne, Clyde. 



The Gemmeous Dragonet, Callionynms Lyra, Linn., 



Is found occasionally on all sides of the island. 



M'Skimmin and Templeton noted this species as having been obtained 

 in Belfast Bay, where specimens have also been procured by Dr. Drum- 

 mond, Mr. G. C. Ilyndman, and myself. They are taken on long lines 

 as Avell as in the dredge, and those of Avhich I have notes were caught be- 

 tween the months of February and October, inclusive. 



On 6th ]\Iay, 1846, Dr. J. L. Drummond favoured me with the follow- 

 ing communication : — 



"This morning I got two specimens of Callionj/intts Lyra; life not 

 quite extinct ; they were taken on a long line in Belfast Bay, and are said 

 not to be uncommon. Covered by the pectoral fin, there is on each side 

 a very distinct ocellus of bright blue, tlie ring, however, not complete, 

 but interrupted in some degree. The fins so colhi])sed that on a superfi- 

 cial view there seem to be only the ventral and caudal ; ventral a dark 

 brownish grey, not purple."' 



