PLATE CIV. 
This little fifli is not entirely of a black colour, as its trivial ap-’ 
pellatioq may imply ; the ground colour js dusky above, beneath 
white, and the whole of the upper part and sides varied with pale 
testaceous, dark streaks, and spots of black ; the head and darker parts 
glossed with blucish, and the fins partaking of the same colour. In 
the first dorsal fin of our specimen are seven rays, in the second twelve, 
pectoral eighteen, ventral eight, anal twelve; and caudal fixteen- 
The rays of all the fins are spotted with black. One pecularity in 
the structure of the ventral fins should be observed ; thefe unite and 
form a kind of funnel, by means of which this filh affixes Itself fn 
firmly to the rocks as to require fome force in removing it, an4 
has hence acquired the synonymous title of rock filh. 
The Black Goby seldom exceeds the length of five or six Inches ; 
it is of the voracious kind, preying on smaller fishes and aquatic in- 
sects. Except in the spawning season it remains in the sea; about 
May or June it ascends rivers for the purpose of depositing Its spawn, 
which it generally secretes under stones near the shallows, and 
then returns again to the marine element. The Black Goby is taken 
in great abundance in the North Seas, and is esteemed delicate and 
wholesome as an article of food. Upon the coast of France this fish 
appears to be very common, but we have reason to apprehend that Jt 
cannot be frequent in the vicinity of the British shores. Our speci- 
men is from the coast of Devonshire. 
