166 



TAIL-SPOTTED GOBY. 



Gobius aitenuatus, C. 



This species is found in the same places with the two last 

 named, to which, chiefly on account of its colour, it bears 

 consideiable likeness; hut it is much more rare than either of 

 them. The length scarcely exceeds tvvo inches, and the general 

 shape almost uniformly slender from head to tail. The snout 

 is even shorter in front of the eye than either of the others, 

 but the eye is not quite so high. Under jaw protruded. The 

 dorsal fins are further apart; second dorsal and anal low, and 

 the latter begins opposite about one third the length of the 

 former, both ending together. Tail straight. In the example 

 described the ventral fin was divided, but this may have been 

 produced by accident. 



The colour was uniform chesnut brown, lighter on the belly; 

 dorsal fins and tail with reddish bars; anal fin pale; a dark 

 ocellated spot at the root of the tail, but no mark or stain of 

 this sort on the side, as in the other tail-marked species. 



