THE CLING-F1SHES. 209 



ever, it may be at once distinguished from any of the Klat- 

 heads, by the tiny gill-opening and the small mouth. 



Another species that is worthy of note is the Mottled 

 Dragonet (Callionymus calauropouius}. In this species, 

 the tail of the male is produced into a long filament. The 

 gill-openings are comparatively large and the large spine 

 of the preopercle is bifurcated at the extremity and curved 

 upward. 



In colour it is brownish above, clouded with darker 

 mottlings. The snout and cheeks are rather prettilv 

 spotted. 



The Mottled Dragonet grows to a length of 7 or 8 

 inches (exclusive of the caudal filaments). 



The illustration is taken from a female specimen. 



THE CLING-FISHES. 



(Family : Gobiesocid(z. 



''THE Cling-Fishes are curious small, carnivorous, marine 

 fishes, usually found between tide-marks among loose stones 

 and shells, to which they adhere firmly by means of the 

 adhesive ventral disk. They can live for a long time out 

 of water. About 50 species are known from various parts 

 of the world, extending as far north as Scotland and Van- 

 couver Island and southwards to New Zealand. "- 

 (Boulenger.) 



The Australian Cling-Fish (Diplocrcpis costatns) is 

 a tiny species occurring on the coast of New South Wales, 

 as well as at Lord Howe Island. The ventral disk in this 

 species as in the others also is large and almost circular; 

 being divided into two parts. It is situated between the 

 ventral fins. The body is without scales. 



