126 



U. S. P E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



young specimens the ocellae and blotches are small, exhibiting, consequently, more of the 



ground color 



Beferences to the figures. — Plate XXVa, fig, 1, represents Anarricldliys felis, size of life, from 



the bay of San Francisco, California. Fig. 2 is a section of the body taken iinraediately 



behind the thorax. Fig. 3 is a scale taken upon the dorsal region beyond the middle of the 



length of the body. 



List of specimens. 



Family GOBIDAE, Bonap. 



The body is small in size and sub-fusiform in shape, generally protected with scales either 

 cycloid or ctenoid in structure. The united ventrals assume the shape of a funnel, being 

 themselves composed of an external undivided ray, and soft, articulated, and sometimes branched 

 ones. They are inserted either in advance, under, or posterior to the base of the pectorals. The 

 rays of the pectoral fins are divided. The dorsal fin is always composed of spinous and of 

 articulated rays, constituting sometimes two distinct fins, occasionally contiguous upon their 

 base. The maxillary teeth are of various kind — velvet, card-like, or canines. The palate itself 

 is toothless. The gills, four in number, are complete ; that is to say, each one is composed of 

 two fully developed branchial combs. The last branchial split (or aperture) itself may be ob- 

 served between the fourth gill and the inferior pharyngeal bone. An air bladder exists in 

 several of the types composing this family. There are no pyloric appendages. 



Syn. — Gobidae, Bonap. Saggio Distr. inetod. Anini. Vertebr. 1831, 110. 



Gobioiiles, Cnv. Rcgn. Anim. II, 1817, 249 ; 2d ed. II, 1829 ; &, ed. illustr. Poiss. 169.— Acass. Poiss. foss. 



IV, 1834.— Cuv. & Val. Hist. nat. Poiss. XI, 1836, 187. 

 Gobioidcae, Richards. Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 88. 

 Gobiaidci, Mi ll. in Wiegiiu Arch. f. Naturg. I, 1843, 297. 



Several members of this family exhibit a papilla genitalis in both sexes, as is also the case in 

 the Blenniods above referred to. 



GOBIUS, Artedi. 



Gkn. Char. — Body elongated, sub-fusiform, compressed, covered with scales cycloid in structure and moderate in size. The 

 head is sub-conical, more or less elongated, its upper surface scalcless. Mouth of moderate size. Velvet or card-like tooth 

 upon both jaws, the external scries oftentimes stronger and more conspicuous. An isthmus. Palate toothless. Two dorsal fins, 

 entirely separated or contiguous upon their base. Caudal posteriorly entire. Anal situated opposite the second dorsal, and, 

 like the latter, not united to the caudr.1. Ventrals inserted under the thora.x. Pectorals well developed. 



SvN.— Goiiius, Artedi, Gen. Pise. ed. fValbaumi, 1792, 188.— Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. Gmeliiii, I, 1788, 1196.— Cnv. 

 lUgn. Anim. 11, 1817,254; 2d ed. II, 1829; &., ed. illustr. Poiss. 177.— Cov. St. Vai.. Hist. nat. 

 Poiss. XII, 1837, 1.— DeKay, Now Y. Faun. IV, 1842, 160.— Storek, Synops. 1846, 124. 



The genus Gobius, as characterized above, reduces very materially the number of species 

 which it is intended to include. Further -observations upon the numerous species already 



