246 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



at the end. Scales large for the size of the fish ; finely ciliated at 

 their free margins and beautifully situated within. Number of fin 

 rays— 



1st D. 6; 2dD. 11; P. 18, V. 10; A. 10; C. 12; B. 5. 



This fish was first described by Jenyns from specimens 

 which were supposed to have been taken somewhere off the 

 Essex coast. Mr Jenyns remarks, that it closely resembles 

 the G. minutus, but is more elongated and slender through- 

 out ; greatest depth barely one seventh of the whole length ; 

 snout rather longer ; opercule approaching more to triangu- 

 lar, the lower angle being more cut away, and the ascend- 

 ing margin more oblique ; a larger space between it and the 

 pectorals ; the two dorsals farther asunder ; rays of the se- 

 cond dorsal longer ; these rays also gradually increasing' in 

 length, instead of decreasing ; the posterior ones being the 

 longest in the fin, and rather more than equalling the whole 

 depth ; rays of the anal, in like manner, longer than in the 

 G. minutus ; anal and ventral fins dusky, approaching to 

 black in some places, instead of plain white as in G. minutus. 

 Jenyns" British Vertebrate Animals. 



Thiswell marked species of goby is occasionally found in the 

 Firth of Forth, but is not common; it inhabits similar situa- 

 tions as the minutus, and they are frequently taken together. 

 I have found it in the Solway Firth, and in much greater 

 plenty on the southern coast of England. It spawns in 

 June, and is of little value except as food for other fishes 

 and aquatic birds. 



GOBIUS BIPUNCTATUS. THE DOUBLY-SPOTTED GoBY. 



Yarrell. 



Specific Characters. — Dorsal fins nearly contiguous ; first fin with 

 seven rays ; a black spot behind the pectorals,, and a similar one on 

 the base of the caudal fin. (See Plate XXIX.) 



