GOBIESOCIID^. 193 



differences. L. Kneatiis, Guichenot, being green witli a pearly white band from the 

 eyo to tbe tail, from which, five cross bars pass towards the back. L. niaoulatus 

 IS brown with three large red spots on the back. L. punctatus is green, with 

 three longitudinal brown stripes on the snout, and reddish dots on the body. 



Names. — Bimaculated and doubly-spotted suoker, due to the black ocellus on 

 either side, situated near the posterior end of the pectoral fin. 



Habits. — Adults live in deeper water than the L. Gouanii : smaller ones are 

 mostly found nearer low water-mark at spring tides than at any other spot. On 

 being removed from the water they immediately attach themselves to the captor's 

 hand. 



Means of capture. — Dredging, found under stones, or, according to Couch, 

 drawn up in crab-pots, the larger individuals keeping in deep water : he records 

 how one was rejected from the mouth of a fish which was being hooked at 

 a depth of thirty-eight fathoms. Mr. Hughes, Zool. 1864, p. 9131, gives an 

 account of this fish in an aquarium, it is of roving habits but soon accommodates 

 itself to its new home. Its colours change, dependent perhaps upon the emotions 

 of the fish, from yellowish white to a rich carnation hue. Its eyes are its especial 

 beauty, resembling living opals set in burnished gold. It is able to attach 

 itself firmly to stones, old shells, or other substances. It speedily fixes 

 itself to some untenanted bivalve shells, sometimes remaining for days with- 

 out moving, except that it would frequently turn round in the shell with a 

 smooth gliding motion, especially when anyone went near the aquarium. It is 

 most restless during the night, but its locomotive powers appear to consist in 

 shifting from one stationary position to another ; it therefore appears to be deficient 

 in the power of pursuing prey, but while at anchor it maintains a constant and 

 regular fanning with its silvery pectoral fins. Possessing no air-bladder it swims 

 with difficulty by means of its fins and tail ; and drops, when so desirous, to the 

 bottom by means of its specific gravity as soon as these cease motion. It eats 

 bits of mussel, oyster, or small fish. 



Breeding. — ^Mr. Hyndman dredging, June 20th, 1844, ofi St. John's Point, 

 CO. Down, brought up from fifteen fathoms an adult, and a perfect Venus virginea, 

 in which was one of these fish with its ova and young, some only of which had 

 made their appearance. At the end of August, in Belfast Bay, he dredged a 

 single full-grown valve of Pectunculus pilosus, the hollow of which was closely 

 studded over for the space of a square inch with the ova of this fish, each of 

 which is globular and about 1/16 of an inch in diameter. Thompson continues 

 that he has frequently seen this species dredged in old single valves • of bivalve 

 shells, but before Mr. Hyndman 's discovery he was not aware of why they were 

 partial to them. 



Habitat. — From Scandinavia to the British Isles, the shores of France to those 

 of the Iberian peninsula, becoming rare in the Mediterranean, but extending to 

 Algeria and Italy. In the Orkneys and Zetland it is not rare (W. Baikie) . In 

 Scotland one dredged in Loch Ryan was brought to Belfast market. Edward in 

 Banfishire once took a fish he thinks may be this species. At Lossiemouth, Moray 

 Firth, an example 1| inches long (Weir, 1852) attached to a shell was drawn up by 

 a fisherman's line. An example was taken at Blakeney, in Norfolk, in July, 1846 

 (Lowe, Fauna, p. 15). Donovan obtained it in Kent. At Weymouth it was first 

 recorded by the Duchess of Portland : Gosse states that during the summer it is 

 frequently dredged there : and Montagu observed that it was not very uncommon 

 in Devonshire ; while although found in Cornwall it does not appear to be so 

 common as L. Oouanii. Mr. Carrington, F.L.S., obtained it for me from Guernsey. 

 Ireland. — Has been taken on the north-east, east, and west of the island. 

 One dredged off Bangor, county Down, September 3rd, 1834, in 5 or 6 fathoms 

 (no spots, P. 18), 1 inch 10 lines long. One, Strangford Lough, October, 1834, 

 in 5 or 6 fathoms, 1 inch 5 lines long : colours reddish orange, with round spots 

 and irregular white markings. One had large blotches of pale Vermillion along its 

 back. Templeton dredged two examples, August, 1811. Not uncommon in 

 Belfast Bay and Strangford Lough. Also taken at Larne. 



The example figured was sent to me by Mr. Dunn from Mevagissey. It is 

 drawn twice the natural size. This form attains to at least 2 inches in length. 



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