4. GOBIESOX. 501 



slight contractions, internally by broad and prominent circular folds . 

 The oesophagus has longitudinal and very elevated folds, some of 

 wliich are continued into the stomach ; the latter is short, globular, 

 and separated from the small intestine by a thick valvula j^ylori. 

 Pyloric appendages none. The numerous folds of the small intestine 

 are longitudinal, or obHque, and short, whilst those of the rectum are 

 transverse. A valvula, not so thick as that on the pylorus, at the 

 commencement of the rectum. 



The liver is large, situated on both sides of the stomach, both 

 halves being united by a very narrow bridge over the cardia ; the 

 left half is bilobed. The gall-bladder is rather large, pear-shaped, 

 and not attached to the liver. A very remarkable circumstance is 

 the presence of a broad, well-developed omentum, in which fat is de- 

 posited as in mammals. I am not aware that it has been observed 

 in other osseous fishes, except in a rudimentary state in very young 

 specimens. 



The kidneys are very slender and thin, situated along the whole 

 length of the abdomen on both sides of the vertebrae ; the ureters 

 lead into the hindmost extremity of the urine-bladder, which is 

 elongate, cuneiform. Testicles separated from each other. 



SJceleton. — The form of the skull is intermediate between that of 

 CJiorisochlsmits and Sicyases ; its crown is broad, with some sKght 

 ridges, and with a single posterior and a pair of lateral impressions. 

 The principal frontal bones are somewhat concave anteriorly to 

 receive the posterior intermaxillary processes ; the latter are very 

 long, flattened, and move below the turbinal bones, which are much 

 develoj)ed, crescent-shaped, and meeting with their convexities on 

 the middle. The intermaxillaries are flattened, with the lateral 

 branches weU developed. The maxillary is strong, of moderate 

 length, and very irregularly shaped. The mandibula is low, of mo- 

 derate length, without an open sHt between the articulary and den- 

 tary bones. Vomer broad and smooth, with the anterior margin 

 concave ; palatine styliform. The base of the skull is very broad, 

 flat, and smooth. Tympanic and opercular bones as in Chorisochis- 

 raus ; structure of the humeral arch and of the pubic as in Choriso- 

 chismus and Sicyases. 



Both the abdominal and the caudal portions of the vertebral column 

 are composed of thirteen vertebra), the length of the former being to 

 that of the latter as 1 : 0-G6. There are no other essential differences 

 from the skeletons of the genera mentioned. 



lines. 



Length of the first vertebra 2^ 



Width of the first vertebra 4^ 



Length of the second vertebra 2| 



of the seventh vertebra , 2| 



of the fifteenth vertebra 1 1 



of the twenty-fifth vertebra 1 3 



of the abdominal portion 28| 



of the caudal portion 19 



