C-l THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



forminf^ a transverse band on the throat ; they reach back to the star-shaped 

 vent, which is in the middle of the leng-th of the body. Each fin consists of 

 six rays. The two dorsal fins are rather distant from each other. The first 

 dorsal commences behind the base of the ventral, and consists of six mijointed 

 rays, forming- an arch which is half as high as the body is deep. The second 

 dorsal is formed by eighteen unjointed rays, commencing over the vent and 

 terminating near the caudal lin. The first ray is very short; the succeeding 

 rays are nearly equal, and as high as the body below them is deep. The anal 

 fin is beneath the second dorsal, but does not extend so far forward or so 

 far back ; it has fourteen unjointed rays, which are two-thirds the height of 

 the rays in the second dorsal. The caudal fin is one-sixth the length of the 

 fish, and its free border is slightly convex, as in other Gobies. 



This species does not exceed a length of two inches. 



The scales are small on the head, along the base of the first dorsal fin, and 

 between the throat and the vent. They are largest on the sides of the body 

 between the dorsal and anal fins. The free border of the scale is convex, 

 sometimes festooned with about fifteen indentations, which correspond to as 

 many sub-parallel diverging rays. In the middle of the base there is a 

 thickened point, from which the excentric lines of growth extend backward; 

 but along the attached margin is a row of thorn-line spines embedded in the 

 skin. There are from thirty-four to thirty-seven scales in the lateral line, 

 which is not very distinct, but runs in the middle of the side. There are 

 seventeen to eighteen scales in a transverse series below the first dorsal fin. 



The fish is of a pale yellowish-brown colour, brighter on the belly and 

 cheeks. There is a dark brown lunate spot on each side of the first dorsal fin, 

 with its convexity directed upward. There are three other spots on each side 

 of the second dorsal fin. Small irregular spots extend along the base of the 

 anal fin. There is a dark brown band at the base of the caudal fin, behind 

 which are many imperfect bands. They are seen on all the fins, but are 

 almost invisible on the ventrals. 



It is found in the River Maritza, near Philii)popolis, in Eastern Roumelia. 



Among other species of Gobius is the spotted Goby, G. jni/ni ///■'<, known in 

 the Thames as the Polewig. It has sixty scales in the lateral line. The ])ody 

 is about seven times as long as high, and the head is one-fourth of the total 

 length. The eye is a fifth of the leng-th of the head, and the eyes approximate 

 towards each other, so as to look upward. The inter-orbital space is naked. 

 The pectoral fin is broad; the ventral fin, which is below it, extends ])ack 

 nearly to the vent. Yarrell mentions that this species is constantly taken with 

 shrimps. When full grown it is only about three inches long. Its wide 

 mouth is armed with several rows of small teeth, which are directed inward. 



