BLACK GOBY. 



281 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



GOBIADX. 



THE BLACK GOBY, ROCK GOBY, 



OR ROCK FISH. 



Gobius niger, LINN/EUS. 

 ,, CUVIER, Regne An. t. ii. p. 243. 



,, Cuv. et VALENC. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. xii. p. 9. 

 ,, Black Goby, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 288, pi. 42. 

 ,, MONTAGU, MS. 



Black Goby, JENVNS, Brit. Vert. p. 385. 



GOBIUS. Generic Characters. Head depressed, with pores between the 

 eyes ; dorsal fins two, distinct, rays of both flexible ; ventral fins united at 

 the edges, forming a circle ; anal aperture with a tubercle ; body covered with 

 scales, the free edges ciliated ; teeth small, numerous ; branchiostegous rays 5. 



THE species of this genus are easily recognised by the 

 peculiar form of the ventral fins ; the short anterior rays, 

 and the long posterior ones, on each side, being united 

 together, making a circle, with which they have been sup- 

 posed to possess the power of attaching themselves to rocks, 

 by forming a vacuum. The Gobies are of little value, except 

 as supplying food to other fishes. Of this genus the Black 

 Goby is one of the most rare on our shores. 



This species appears to be chiefly an inhabitant of the 

 rocky parts of our coast, and on that account is not so 



