500 ORDER MALACOPTERYGII SUBBRACHIATI. 



throat by a transverse membrane, directed forwards, 

 which is formed by the union of the two ventrals. 

 For the rest, their body is smooth and without scales; 

 the head broad and depressed; their muzzle salient and 

 extensible ; their gills but slightly cleft, furnished with 

 four or five rays ; they have but one small dorsal, op- 

 posite a similar anal ; their intestine is short, straight, 

 and without cceca : they want the natatory bladder, 

 nevertheless they swim with vivacity along the shores. 

 In 



Lepadogaster, properly so called, 



The membrane which represents the ventrals extends 

 circularly under the pelvis, and forms a concave 

 disk; on the other hand, the bones of the shoulder 

 form a slight projection behind, which completes 

 a second disk with the membrane, which unites the 

 pectorals. Our seas have several species. 



In some the dorsal and the anal are distinct from 

 the caudal, with which their membrane is neverthe- 

 less sometimes continued, but it grows narrower \ 



In others these three fins are united 2 . 



Gobiesox, Lacep., 

 Have not these double borders, and consequently the 



1 Lepadog. gouan, Lac. I. xxiii. 3. 4., or Lep. rostratus, Schn. ; 

 Lep. balbis, Risso, pi. iv. f. 9., probably the same as the Cyclopt. 

 cornubicus, Sh., or Jura sucker, Penn. Brit. Zool. No. 59. ; Lcpad. 

 Decandolle, Risso, p. 76. 



2 Lepadog. Wildenow, Risso, pi. iv. f. 10. 



