236 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



it ; pectorals rounded like the caudal, about one-half its size. Jaws 

 furnished with a number of small teeth arranged in two rows on the 

 anterior part. (Mr Yarrell states, they are placed in a single raw 

 in each jaw.) Teeth on the front of the vomer, none on the pala- 

 tines or tongue ; under jaw the longest when the mouth is opened ; 

 head narrow, much more compressed than the nape. Lips thin and 

 folded back, giving an appearance as if thick and fleshy ; each oper- 

 culum ends in a point directed over the base of the pectorals ; mem- 

 brane continuous under the throat. Number of fin rays — 

 D. 78 ; P. 11 ; V. 2 ; A. 45 ; C. 15. 



This fish which T have frequently met with on the coast 

 of Devon, has been observed as far north as the shores of 

 Norway. It is common in every part of the estuary of the 

 Firth of Forth ; more so in those situations where sea-weed 

 grows in the greatest abundance, under which it will seek 

 refuge for many hours after the tide has ebbed. Above 

 North Queensferry, about a mile, I found, in the month of 

 July, as many as from nine to twelve in number collected 

 together under a tuft of sea- weed. These fish when first 

 taken in the hand, are with difficulty retained, owing to 

 the slimy secretion with which the whole surface of the body 

 is covered. When found in large pools of water, thej 

 are observed to swim with great rapidity, and are caught 

 with the greatest difficulty in consequence of their moving 

 from one place to another with extreme quickness, and 

 creeping into every small crevice they can find. 



The common length of the spotted Gunnel, or, as it 

 is named in Scotland, Stane-checker, is from four to five 

 inches. On one occasion, I found a specimen to measure 

 eleven inches in length, when the whole of the dorsal spots 

 were obliterated except the first, which was scarcely per- 

 ceptible. As the fish increases in size, the spots become 

 less defined. We are told, that in Greenland the flesh of 

 this fish, though hard, is dried and eaten. In this country 



