THE DORY AND THE GOBY FAMILIES. 167 



observed that the embryo showed black chromatophores near 

 the dorsal median line. 



The Dory Family. Cyttidae. 



The Dory. (Zeus faber, L.) 



This is a rare fish in northern waters, an occasional specimen 

 only being captured. Couch considered the dory a fertile 

 fish, and "young ones of small size are often met with, but 

 they soon become scattered." Day records that Mr Dunn 

 (Mevagissey) thinks it spawns in winter : and that the young 

 are 2 or 3 inches in length in August. Mr Cunningham ^ on 

 the other hand, is of opinion that spawning takes place about 

 June and July, since in spring the roe was ripening, while in 

 autumn it was " shotten." He gives a table showing that on 

 Oct. 3 the young are 1"7 inches, and apparently, he thinks, 

 about 3 months old. Next June (June 3), they are 4'9 to 

 5'5 inches and 11 months old. On August 20, 53 to 61 inches 

 and a year and 1 month old. The following April they reach 

 9-6 inches with an estimated age of 1 year and 10 months ; 

 while in September they are 111 inches and 2 years and 

 2 months. The average size, according to this author, is from 

 15 to 18 inches, which he says is probably not reached in less 

 than 3 years. 



The Croby Family. Gobiidae. 



The Freckled Goby. (Gobius minutus, Pall.) 



Though of little use to man as food, yet this and other 

 members of the genus are readily preyed on by the cod and 

 other fishes, and from their wide distribution and great numbers 

 they are of greater importance than at first sight appears. 

 The remarkable features of their eggs also claim some at- 

 tention. 



1 Jour. Mar. Biol. Assoc. 1891—92, p. 111. 



