THE SEA-SNAIL. 383 



Genus LIPARIS. Body rather elongated, smooth, with- 

 out tubercles. 



LlPARIS VULGARIS.* THE SEA-SNAIL. 



Specific Character. — Dorsal and anal fins connected with the caudal. 



Description. — From a specimen five inches in length ; greatest 

 depth one inch and a quarter ; head not quite one-fifth of the whole 

 length. Colour of the body pale yellowish-brown, mottled and spot- 

 ted with dark brown ; belly dirty white. Dorsal fin commencing in 

 a line over the middle of the pectorals, running down the back to be 

 connected with the caudal rays ; the first ray very short ; the suc- 

 ceeding rays gradually increasing in height to about a little more 

 than half- way down the fin ; the rest of the rays very gradually di- 

 minishing, the last two or three rather more rapidly; the longest 

 rays equalling the length of the base of the first seven rays of the 

 anal. Pectorals very broad, extending downwards and forward un- 

 der the throat ; the first twelve or thirteen rays nearly of equal length, 

 as long as the middle ray of the caudal ; the rest gradually diminish- 

 ing as far as the last but six, which are very much produced. Anal 

 commencing in a line under the seventh ray of the dorsal, and run- 

 ning down to be united to the caudal, a little farther back than the 

 termination of the last dorsal ray ; ventrals united, forming a concave 

 disk, placed under the throat between the termination of the pecto- 

 rals ; caudal rounded at the end. Jaws about equal ; teeth small 

 and closely set, arranged in two or three rows in front of each jaw ; 

 eyes small, placed rather behind the angle of the mouth ; operculum 

 ending in a small point directed backwards over the base of the pec- 

 toral; body covered with an unctuous, thin, loose, skin, without 

 scales or tubercles of any description; gill-opening very small, 'en- 

 tirely closed in front of the base of the pectorals. Number of fin rays — 



D. 36; P. 34; A. 28 ; C. 12; Caeca 16. 



This fish is occasionally taken in the Forth above Alloa, 

 in nets used for the capturing of spirlings ; but does not ap- 

 pear by any means common. A few examples have also 

 been found in the cruives at Kincardine along with other 

 small fishes. According to Mr Low, it is found in Ork- 

 ney, in many places under stones, but more particular- 



* IAparis vulgaris, Yarr., Cuv. Cyclopterus liparis, Linn., Penn., Don., 

 Jen. Unctuous sucker. 



