GOBIID^E. 365 



lax skin, the rays of none of the fins can be accurately enu- 

 merated, but the numbers given at the beginning of this 

 article were taken from the skeleton of a larger specimen 

 than the one we have figured. The vertical fins unite at the 

 point of the tail without any break or depression, such as that 

 which the dorsal of Zoarces viviparus exhibits posteriorly, and 

 all the rays are articulated. They number in the aggregate 

 158, and the major part of the dorsal and anal ones are simple 

 at the bottom and split at the tips, the divisions lying in close 

 contact ; towards the caudal the tips open a little, and the last 

 rays are divided to the base ; the caudal rays are smaller and 

 more divided. The ten rays enumerated as caudal ones are 

 those only which are attached to the two triangular inter- 

 spinous bones, which do not terminate the spinal column 

 evenly, but lie beneath its tip. Reinhardt describes the ven- 

 trals of his species as formed of four rays ; but on a careful 

 examination with the microscope I can detect only three toru- 

 lose, jointed, tapering rays of equal length, with a minute 

 cartilaginous support to the inner or anterior of the three. 

 In preparing the skeleton, this part of the fish was unfortu- 

 nately injured, but a dissection of one of the ventrals of the 

 remaining specimen enabled me to ascertain its structure. 

 When enveloped in the skin, the ventrals have considerable 

 elasticity, and hence they may readily be confounded with 

 spines. 



Colour. No memorandum was furnished to me of the tints 

 of colour of the recent fish. The specimen that the figure 

 was executed from was in a perfect condition, and does not 

 appear as if any of its markings have been obliterated. It was 

 probably put into spirits while yet alive, as its head was 

 thrown back, as if it had died convulsed, and its body was co- 

 vered by a thick layer of mucus. After twelve months' ma- 

 ceration in spirits the dark upper parts of the fish have a deep 

 clove-brown colour, becoming almost black where it touches 

 the white marks. The white extends over the lips, the under 

 surface of the head, base of the pectoral, over the belly, and, 

 with interruptions, along the base of much of the anal fin. 



