FAMILY, XXVII— GOBIID^. 295 



Gohius bullee hohah, Russell, 1. c. p. 42, pi. 53. 



Oolius giitris, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 51, 306, pi. 33, fig. 15 ; Cuv. and Val. xii, p. 72 ; Bleeker, 

 Blenn. en Gob. p. 24 ; Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 21 ; Peters, Monats. Akad. Berlin, 1868, p. 263, and Reise nach 

 Mosambique, p. 20; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 109; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 173. 



Gohms hurpah, Sykes, Tr. Zool. Soc. ii, p. 352, pi. 01, f. 1. 



OoUus holdm, Cuv. and Val. xii, p. 68 ; Jacq. Atl. t. xiv, f. 3 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1848, p. 148 ; 

 Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. ssii, 24, 3 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 180. 



Gobius catebus, Cuv. and Val. xii, p. 76 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Se. 1851, p. 143. 



Gobius kora, Cuv. and Val. xii, jj. 77. 



Gobius flatyceplialus, Peters. ]\Ionats. Akad. Berlin, 1852, p. 681, and Reise nach Mosambique, t. iii, f. 2. 



Gobius spectabilis, Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 45. 



Wcniee-poolali, Pooan, and Knrddn, Mai. ; Nullatan, Oolooway, Tam. ; Tsikideo7uloa and Issakee doondoo, 

 Tel. ; Gulali, Ooriah ; Nga-tlm-boh, Bui-mese ; Poo-dali, Andam. ; Ah-hro-ny, Canarese ; Goo-loo-wah, and Boul-la, 

 Punj. ; Gooloo, Sind. and N. W. Prov. 



B. Iv, D. 6 I ^V> P- 20, V. 1/5, A. ^i^, C. 17, L. 1. 30-34, L. tr. 8-9, Vert. 11/16. 



Length of head Z\ to 4, of caudal 4 to 5^, height of body 5 to 6\ in the total length. Eyes — diameter 

 1/0 to 1/8 of length of head, 2 to 2i diameters from end of snout, and 1/3 to 3/4 of a diameter apart. 

 Interorbital space slightly concave, with an open gland. Greatest width of head* equals from 1/2 to 3/5 of the 

 length of the head, whilst its height equals about 1/2 its length. Lower jaw the longer, the maxilla extends to 

 below the anterior edge of the orbit. Teeth — in villiform rows, with an outer enlarged row in the upper jaw, 

 laterally in two rows of which the inner is sometimes the larger : in the lower jaw a large row anteriorly, laterally 

 two rows. Fins — these are subject to very great variations as to the length of the spines and rays, as might be 

 anticipated in a fish which is so extensively used for stocking ponds, and as far as I have seen the variety 

 G. giuris, or G. spectabilis, is that in which they are most lengthened. I have a specimen from Calcutta in 

 which the caudal fin is 1/4 of the total length, and another from Assam in which it is 4i, as shown 

 in Ham. Buch. In some the spines of the first dorsal are a little higher than the body, in others a little lower : 

 the posterior rays of the second dorsal reach to the caudal, in others not above 1/2 way to that fin. Caudal 

 somewhat pointed or rounded. Scales— extend superiorly to nearly as far as the hind edge of the eyes, and 

 from 25 to 30 rows before the base of the dorsal fin, where they are smaller than those on the body which are 

 anoTilar and ctenoid. Colours — vary both with the localities and also with the colour of the water, they may 

 generally be said to be of a fawn-colour, with cloudy markings on the head, and irregular bands, spots, or 

 blotches, on the back and sides of the body. Vertical fins spotted. 



This fish may be divided as follows : — 



Gobius giuris, H. B.=0. catdms, C. Y.=G. spectabilis, Giinther. As a rule there is no distinct black 

 blotch on the first dorsal spine, but both the dorsal fins have from six to eight or even more rows of spots : the 

 caudal is closely banded in spots, as in G. pimtang. This form is most common in the freshwaters of Bengal, 

 Assam, and Burma, but it does not exclude either of the two next. 



Gobius kora nwttali, 'Rn.ssel\=G. kora, C. V. In this form, the tail fin is entirely, or almost entirely 

 destitute of spots, but instead has dark edges. 



Gobius bullee kokah, Russell=(?. kurpah, Sykes=(?. Eussellii, C. Y.=G. platycephalus, Peters. There are 

 usually only three or four rows of spots along the dorsal fins, and a deep black blotch on the first dorsal spine 

 anteriorly, which extends on to the interspinous membrane. The caudal has distinct black bands, from four to 

 six or eight, but is not so closely barred as in the Bengal variety. 



Gobius koku, Russell^6r. kokius, C. V. is an entirely marine form, and probably a distinct species. Its 

 snout is narrower at its base where it only equals its length. The last rays of the dorsal fin are short. It has 

 four or five large blotches along the sides, and intermediate above them usually three more. Its fins are spotted 

 iu about three or four rows, there is no black blotch on the first dorsal spine : its caudal is spotted in rows. 



This fish is much esteemed by the natives of India as being very light and wholesome, but 

 unless elaborately cooked is not relished by Europeans, because of its deficiency in or earthy taste. It is very 

 voracious and takes a bait freely. 



Habitat.'— East coast of Africa, also in all pieces of fresh water throughout the plains of India, Ceylon, 

 Burma, Sind, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond: attaining a foot and a half in length. The variety 

 (? species) kokius never exceeds a span, and appears to be entirely confined to the sea and estuaries all along 

 the coasts of India, and also at the Andamans. 



31. Gobius semidoliatus, Plate LIX, fig. 6 (f). 

 Cuv. and Val. xii, p. 67 ; Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 31 ; Klunz. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1871, p. 475. 

 B. V, D. 6 I i, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 8, C. 13, L. 1. 28, L. tr. 9. 

 Length of head 41, of caudal 4^, height of body 4^ in the total length. Eyes— diameter 3i in length of 



• This is one of the freshwater species of Indian fishes in which but little reliance can be placed npon the " width of the head." 

 because they frequently die with their mouths distended, as is so often seen in Gudgeons in Europe. All Museum specimens of Goeiid,e 

 should be examined to see whether they have stiffened with tbcir gills distended, as such alters the shape of the head. 



