GOBIES AND BLENNIES. 165 



are viviparous, as we shall presently see of the 

 Bleiinies. 



3. CaUionymina. Here the ventrals are sepa- 

 rate, larger than the pectorals, and placed far 

 forward under the throat. There are two dorsals, 

 sometimes much elevated. The head is oblong, 

 flattened, with the eyes looking upwards, and 

 with a very small hole on each side of the nape, 

 for the gill-opening. They much resemble the 

 Gurnards in shape and aspect ; they are small 

 fishes with a smooth skin, covered with slime, but 

 often adorned with brilliant colours. The mouth 

 is small and very protractile, and the jaws are 

 studded with small, thickly-set teeth. 



Two species of this group are found on the 

 British shores, called Dragonets. One of these, 

 the Gemmeous Dragonet, {CaUionymus lyra, 

 Linn.), is a little fish of unusual brilliancy. The 

 body is yellow of various tints, with the head 

 and sides marked with spots, dashes, and lines 

 of sapphire-blue : the dorsal -fins are pale brown, 

 crossed by several bands of black. All the fins 

 are very large, but the two dorsals in particular 

 are elevated in the form of high sails, and the 

 first is tall, slender, and curved like a crescent. 



To this group is assigned that singular fish, 

 which has been already alluded to as inhabiting 

 Lake Baikal, (Comephorus Baicalensis, Pall.)* 

 While agreeing, in many points with the other 

 species, there are some important ones" in which 

 it differs, particularly in the total absence of 

 ventral fins. Pallas's account represents it as 

 varying from four to six inches in length, with 

 a broad depressed head, and a soft unctuous body. 

 * Nov. Act i. 9. 



