xxni ACANTHOPTERYGII 707 



with sessile ribs and no transverse processes, fifth to seventh 

 with ribs inserted on short transverse processes ; no epipleurals. 

 Post-temporal forked, but completely adnate to the skull ; scapula 

 separated from the coracoid by a fenestra ; pectoral rays attached 

 to the scapula and to three broad pterygials, all three in contact 

 with the coracoid. Ventral fins jugular, widely separated from 

 each other, with 5 soft rays in addition to a short spine. Gill- 

 openings very narrow, generally reduced to a foramen on the 

 upper side of the operculum ; 6 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a 

 slit behind the fourth ; pseudobranchiae well developed. Body 

 naked. Two dorsal fins, the first composed of a few flexible 

 spines; second dorsal and anal rather short (7-10 rays). 



Small marine fishes, referable to 2 genera ; Callionymus, with 

 about 45 species, nearly cosmopolitan, and Vulsus, with a single 

 species from Amboyna and Celebes. In the common British species, 

 the Dragonet (Callionymus lyra), the male acquires very marked 

 secondary characters, the snout becoming more elongate, the second 

 dorsal fin much produced, and the body ornamented with yellow 

 and blue bands. The courtship and pairing have been described 

 by E. W. L. Holt, 1 who observes that this curious fish offers 

 the only instance of a definite sexual intercourse among Tele- 

 osteans propagating by pelagic ova. In the Indian C. carebares 

 it is the female that is the more brightly coloured. 



Fam. 8. Gobiesocidae. Suborbital arch absent ; entoptery- 

 goid absent ; basis cranii simple ; mouth moderate, protractile. 

 Vertebrae numerous, 27-31 (14-16+11-21), the first, if 

 present, rudimentary, 2 the third and following praecaudals 

 with long parapophyses 3 bearing the ribs at their extremity : 

 no epipleurals. Post-temporal simple, articulated to the skull : 

 scapula with a foramen, coracoid much reduced ; pectoral rays 

 inserted on the scapula and on four large pterygials, two of 

 which are in contact with the scapula ; an adhesive ventral disk, 

 simple or double, supported in front by the clavicles, in the 



1 P.Z.S. 1898, p. 281. 



2 The vertebral column in this family shows that the first segment has been lost 

 in Callionymus, as could be deduced from the fact that, in that genus, the first rib 

 is ou the second vertebra instead of on the third as is usual in Teleosteans. In the 

 Gobiesocidae, as in Callionymus, there are three occipital condyles on a straight 

 transverse line, the outer, formed by the exoccipitals, invariably articulating with 

 the second vertebra. 



3 Which have been described as ribs by Gtinther and by Guitel. 



