184 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



armed with spines. Colour of the head, back, and sides reddish- 

 brown ; belly whitish, with large spots of light brown ; all the fins 

 beautifully marbled with black and white. The colours are very va- 

 riable, depending greatly on the time of the year in which they are 

 examined ; in July and August they are the most vivid, when I have 

 found the roe far advanced. Lateral line smooth, rather prominent, 

 commencing over the upper part of the operculum, taking a slight 

 curve to the end of the first dorsal fin, from thence straight to the base 

 of the tail where it terminates ; occasionally there are a number of small 

 rough tubercles scattered over the body, sometimes arranged in rows 

 presenting an appearance as if there were a second lateral line. (Mr 

 Yarrell has well represented this second line in his figure of this fish.) 

 Eyes moderate, situated rather high, placed nearer the point of the nose 

 than to the operculum. In front of each orbit is placed a short, stout, 

 sharp spine, and a small tubercle on the upper and posterior margin. 

 Operculum with a stout, sharp spine directing over the base of the 

 pectorals ; suboperculum with two short spines, one pointing down 

 towards the base of the ventral fin, the other directing to the first ray of 

 the pectoral fin. Preoperculum with three spines ; the first, which is the 

 longest, points towards the base of the first ray of the pectorals, and 

 does not extend beyond the posterior border of the operculum ; the 

 second, which arises at the base of the former, is about one-half its 

 length, and points towards the base of the tenth ray of the pectoral ; 

 the third, which scarcely projects beyond the membrane, points 

 towards the base of the lower jaw. First dorsal fin commencing 

 over the middle of the base of the pectorals, and terminating in a line 

 over the anterior part of the vent ; all its rays spinous and slender ; 

 the middle ones the longest. Second dorsal commencing close be- 

 hind the first, and ending rather behind the termination of the anal fin ; 

 its middle rays the longest. Anal corresponding with the second 

 dorsal, but somewhat shorter ; pectorals broad and rounded, extend- 

 ing rather under the throat, the seventh, eighth, and ninth ray the 

 longest ; ventrals placed under the base of the lower part of the 

 pectorals. Teeth small and fine in both jaws, and on front of the 

 vomer ; under jaw the shortest ; a conical elevation between the 

 nasal spines ; tail rounded at the end ; occipital spine short ; scapu- 

 lar spine directing backwards and slightly upwards. Number of 

 fin rays — 



1st D. 9 ; 2d D. 16; P. 16 ; V. 4 ; A. 11 ; C. 12 ; Branchiostegous 

 rays 6. 



It is distinguished from the Cottus bubalis in the lateral 

 line being smooth ; the long spine of the preoperculum not 



