60 GOBIID^. 



Gobius raartinicus, Cuv.Sr Vol. xii. p. 105; Casteln.Anim.nouv. ou rares 

 de VAmer. du Stid, Poiss. p. 26. 



^•^\ro' ^' To' ^- 1^*- 6^-6<5. Vert. 11/15. 



Nineteen longitudinal series of scales between the second dorsal 

 and the anal fin. The extent of the snout is rather more than one- 

 third of the length of the head. Eye small, one-seventh of the length 

 of the head (in mature individuals); the height of the body is con- 

 tained six times and a half in the total length, the length of the head 

 four times and a fourth. The interorbital space is flat, and its width 

 equals the diameter of the eye. The upper jaw is longer than the 

 lower. The maxillaiy extends to the vertical from the orbit in im- 

 mature specimens, or in specimens of middle size ; it does not reach 

 60 far backwards in veiy large individuals. Scales on the nape much 

 smaller than those on the sides. The distance of the first dorsal from 

 the eye is equal to, or rather more than, that of the snout from the 

 prseoperculum. The ventral terminates at a great distance from the 

 vent, and has the basal membrane very broad. Dorsal fins lower than 

 the body. Brownish-olive, irregularly spotted or dotted with dark 

 brown ; sometimes two oblique streaks from the eye to the lip. Dorsal, 

 caudal, and pectoral fins dotted with brown, the dots forming waving 

 longitudinal stripes on the dorsals, and transverse streaks on the caudal 

 and pectoral. Mature specimens have six to eight dotted streaks on 

 the caudal, immature ones four to five. Ventrals and anal white. 



Caribbean Sea, entering fresh waters. 



a-i. Adult and half-grown : stuffed and skins. Caribbean Sea. 



From Dr. Parnell's Collection. 

 h-t. Adult and young. Caribbean Sea. From the Collection of the 



Zoological Society. 

 u, V. Adult. Antilles. Purchased of Mr. Brandt. 

 w-y. Half-grown : skins, in spirit. America. From Dr. ParncU's 



Collection. 

 2. Thirteen inches long. From the Haslar Collection. 

 a. Adult. 

 /S, Adult: skeleton. Caribbean Sea. From the Collection of the 



Zoological Society. 



Sl-eleton. — It does not differ in any essential point from those of 

 O. giuris and 0. capito, but is distinguished by the following pecu- 

 liarities : — 



The crown of the head is broad, as in other Gobies, but with the 

 whole surface slightly convex. The posterior processes of the inter- 

 maxillaries are long and broad, and the anterior portion of these bones 

 is horizontally dilated, as in other Acanthopterj'gians which have a 

 protractile mouth (as Oerres). The bones of the jaws in general 

 are rather slender, and the articulary of the mandibula is not dilated. 

 Pubic bones short. There are eleven abdominal and fifteen caudal 

 vertebrae, the length of the former portion of the vertebral column 

 being to that of the caudal as 1:1-3. Ribs and processes of the 

 vertebra; feeble. 



