166 ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



about equal to two-thirds the length of the base of the first dorsal fin, between 

 the two dorsal fins. Second dorsal as high as the body in the male, but lower in 

 the female. None of the pectoral rays silk-like. The ventral extends to the vent. 

 Caudal somewhat rounded at its extremity. Female — in some examples the head 

 is shorter and more square than in the male. Scales — ctenoid, extending anteriorly 

 to above the posterior extremity of the preopercle. Those on the last portion of 

 the body a little larger than those anteriorly and more angular in their exposed 

 part. Colours — in the male of a gingery-brown, with spots and even vertical 

 bands along the side of the body, and usually a dark mark at the base of the caudal 

 fin. "Dorsal gray with three or four irregularly longitudinal bands of spots, and a 

 black spot edged with white between the fifth and sixth spines, also a black edging 

 to the membrane going from the sixth spine to the back. Second dorsal with 

 several rows of spots and dark outer edge : pectoral and ventral light coloured. 

 Anal stained externally with black. Caudal with a dark extremity, and five or six 

 irregularly vertical bands of spots. Female — lighter than the male : fins light 

 coloured, the first dorsal with two or three horizontal bands and sometimes with 

 a small spot between the fifth and sixth spines. Second dorsal with yellow spots : 

 caudal fin banded with rusty spots. In some examples there are several vertical 

 narrow and usually dark bands on the body. 



Varieties. — Parnell considered those examples which possessed a black spot 

 between the fifth and sixth spines of the first dorsal fin, the second dorsal with 

 eleven rays and the tail fin even at its extremity belonged to his G. unipunctatus, 

 whereas they would seem to be the typical G. minutus. He found this form 

 equally common with what he considered the true G. minutus, but which perhaps 

 is G. microps of Malm, specimens of which I received from Professor Lutken of 

 Copenhagen ; they are differentiated by having no scales on the throat where 

 G. minutus is densely covered by them. This well marked form does not appear 

 to attain the size of G. minuhis, while its markings differ, consisting of a more or less 

 distinct rows of black blotches along the middle of the side and numerous dark 

 sinuous lines along the rows of scales in the upper half of the body. Respecting 

 G. reticulatus (c. v.) McCoy, Thompson observes that he has seen G. minutus 

 display the rosy tint in the first dorsal fin mentioned by McCoy, and other 

 characters so closely agreeing with the specimen he described that he could not 

 consider them different species. 



Names. — Freckled or spotted goby. Polewig or pollybait, Thames local name. 

 One-spotted goby. Graigbysg brych, Welsh. Donlie at Aberdeen. Bourguette or 

 Bouhotte, French. 



Habits. — Delights in shallow and sandy bays, and often taken in shrimping 

 nets. It is very active and may be seen darting about in all directions. Templeton 

 observed that it lodges under large shells when the tide is out. As however it 

 is frequently found in the stomach of cod and other fish captured at considerable 

 depths, it would appear that it extends its range into deep water. Its food consists 

 of small Crustacea. 



Breeding. — In June. 



Uses. — Larger ones are sometimes employed as baits. 



Means of capture. — These little fishes are commonly taken in small nets by 

 shrimpers, in sandy bays around the coast, and also by dredging, extending as they 

 frequently do to some fathoms depth off the coast. They are numerous at the 

 mouth of the Thames, and commonly found among the whitebait brought to the 

 London market. 



Habitat. — From the Scandinavian peninsula to the Orkneys and Shetlands, 

 and along the shores of Great Britain and Ireland in appropriate localities : like- 

 wise in the English Channel and the Atlantic and Mediterranean shores of Europe. 



Ireland, common in sandy bays from north to 'south, and Thompson took large 

 ones while dredging in water several fathoms deep, which is not uncommon else- 

 where during the summer months. 



This fish attains to at least 3|- inches in length, at which size I obtained it 

 at Aberdeen. The example figured is one I took at Weston-super-Mare. 



