114 GOBIID.E. 



II. Suout of moderate leiioth, the form of the liead approaching that of 

 Gobius (giuris). 



1. No black spot on the root of tlie pectoral : Eleotris (part.), Bleek. 

 12. Eleotris gobioides. 



Eleotris gobioides, Cur. ii|- Val. xii. p. 247 ; Richards. Voy. JEreb. ^• 

 Terr. Fishes, p. 4. pi. 2. figs. 5, 6 ; Jenyns, Zool. Beagle, Fishes, p. 98. 

 basalis, Gray, Zool. Misc. 1842, p. 73. 



D- ^ I ii- ^- ^f>- ^- ^^*- ^^- ^^^^- 13/1^- 

 Praeoperciilum without spine. Ten or eleven series of scales be- 

 tween the origin of the second dorsal fin and the anal. The scales 

 on the nape of the neck are of moderate size, and do not extend over 

 the interorbital space ; those on the cheek minute. Scales not 

 ciliated. The height of the body is contained five times and a half 

 in the total length, the length of the head three times and three- 

 quarters. The horizontal diameter of the eye is one-sixth of the 

 length of the head, or one-half of the width of the interorbital space. 

 Snout of moderate length, with the lower jaw prominent, and with 

 the cleft of the mouth oblique ; the maxillary extends somewhat 

 beyond the vertical from the anterior margin of the eye. Teeth 

 villiform, in broad bands. Blackish-brown, with the fins blackish ; 

 a white vertical band across the root of the pectoral fin, very distinct 

 in immature specimens, indistinct or absent in adult ones. 

 Coasts and fresh waters of New Zealand. 



a-g. Adult and half-grown. Bay of Islands. From the Haslar 



Collection. 

 h, i. Half-grown. River Thames (New Zealand). From Dr. 



Dieffenbach's Collection. — Types of E. basalis. 

 Ic-o. Young. Lake Maiken (Antarctic Expedition), 

 p. Many adult, half-grown, and young specimens. All from New 



Zealand. 

 q. Adult : skeleton. New Zealand, From the Haslar Collection. 



The sJceleton of this species differs only in some minor points from 

 those described. The crown of the head is broad, slightly convex, 

 without crests, except a very feeble one on the occipital. The frontals 

 are moderately broad between the orbits, and have the orbital edge 

 somewhat elevated. The infraorbital ring is indicated by a small 

 prseorbital and a rudimentary postorbital. The prsefrontals do not 

 project much on the sides of the head. The bones of the jaws are 

 stout ; vomer hammer-shaped ; urohyal subtriangular. 



There are thirteen abdominal and fifteen caudal vertebrae, both 

 portions being equal in length. Ribs rather strong, suspended from 

 long parapophyses, and with the epipleurals well developed. The 

 other processes of moderate length and strength. 



lines. 



Length of the first vertebra 1| 



of the fifth vertebra 1| 



of the thirteenth vertebra 1| 



