of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
325 
during the work of the ' Garland,' but having no date or locality attached 
to it, though it probably was procured in autumn — to judge from the con- 
dition of a Mutella accompanying it. Many of the adult characters are 
now present. The body, however, is much flattened (PI. X. fig. 7). Black 
pigment occurs in specks on the snout, a black spot is placed beneath 
each eye, and each opercular region has the same coloration, which is con- 
nected superiorly with that tinting the brain and snout. Patches of the 
same pigment occur in front of the pectorals (clavicular region), and a 
broad black band extends from the opercular spines rather beyond the 
middle of the body, and from the dorsum as far down as the lateral line. 
A few isolated specks exist on the side between the latter and the ventral 
margin. The mandible is directed obliquely upward and forward. The 
premaxillary margin has a well-marked notch in the centre. Five long 
and strong spines guard the pre-opercular margin as in Cottus, the second 
upper being the strongest. They are sheathed in skin almost to the tip, 
and thus, from their conical shape, are very conspicuous. Two spines, as 
in Coitus, occur on the operculum — the upper, long and powerful, directed 
backward and very slightly downward, and a shorter inferior spine 
slanting downward and very slightly backward, and therefore at a con- 
siderable angle to the former. Two spines project just above the upper 
angle of the opercular slit. No spines occur over the eyes. The pectorals 
are elongate, and seem to have undergone a rotation downward, so that 
the angle of the rays with the lateral line is small. So far as can be 
observed, the lower agree in structure with the upper pectoral rays. The 
pelvic fins stand boldly out from the prominent median keel, and their 
bases are distinctly in front of the pectorals. They are comparatively 
large fan-shaped fins, deeply coloured with black pigment, both dorsally 
and centrally. The spine is well developed, but is sheathed in skin to 
the point. The contour of the abdomen, as seen from the ventral surface, 
differs much from that of the young Cottus, since it forms only a small 
swelling behind the large ventrals, whereas in the latter the large tumid 
abdomen is conspicuous — the pelvic fins forming minute processes at the 
anterior border. Moreover, a somewhat V-shaped ma.ss of black pigment, 
with the angle directed forward, occurs in the middle line immediately 
behind the ventrals. The first dorsal fin is black, with the three first 
spines well developed, but sheathed in skin almost to the tip. It is joined 
by membrane to the second dorsal, the short spines in this part being still 
covered. The second dorsal and the anal resemble those in the adult. A 
young Ccdigus adheres to the anterior surface of the right pectoral. 
In a specimen of T. vipera (in spirit), about 26 mm. long, the chief 
changes are in the pigment and the proportionally larger size of the body. 
The pigment now has a tendency to form rows of spots along the sides. 
The two opercular spines are still prominent and sharp, and five long 
pre-opercular spines are conspicuous, the median being slightly curved as 
well as longest. At least three spines occur above the opercular slit. 
In another example belonging to the same species, and measuring 
34 mm. in spirit, the small black-pigment specks still form rows along 
the sides. A single opercular spine, the upper and larger, is now 
present, and the pre-opercular spines are shorter — indeed, on one side 
four only can be made out. The pectorals and ventrals are proportion- 
ally large. 
It is interesting that in the earlier stages Cottus and Trachinus should 
have so many features in common in regard to the armature of the head 
and the general shape. 
Couch"^ describes a young example of what he considers to be the 
* Vol. ii. p. 46. 
