SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 



363 



steep and straight; maxillary extending as far as anterior margin of orbit; eye large, about .75 

 snout; preopercular spine nearly as long as head, not reaching beyond nuchal spine; dorsal 

 rays vii + 8, the 2 anterior spines separated from the others and connected at their bases by 

 membrane, the last spine very short; both dorsal fins rather high, the posterior higher, its longest 

 rays about equal to depth of body; anal rays 6, the fin similar to soft dorsal; caudal concave 

 behind; pectoral rays about 34, the upper section with 6 rays; ventrals about length of head. 

 Color: variable; above irregularly marked with difTerent shades of green and brown; pale below, 

 with blotches of red and yellow; spinous dorsal with several dark bars; caudal with 3 vertical 

 reddish bars; pectorals marked with blue streaks, bars, and spots, their under surface glistening 

 bLie. (volitans, flying.) 



Fig. 165. Flying Gurnard. Cephalacanthus volitans. 



Although Jordan & Gilbert found this species rather common at Beaufort in 

 1878 and Jenkins reported it as common in 1885, it had not recently been met 

 with in that region until the summer of 1904, when 1 was collected by Dr. E. W, 

 Gudger. Another was seined on Bird Shoal August 5, 1905, by Mr. C. B. Wilson. 

 It occurs regularly, but in limited numbers, as far north as Massachusetts, and 

 ranges thence southward along the entire coast, being most numerous on the 

 shores of the South Atlantic and Gulf States. The North Carolina fishermen call 

 this species "flying-fish". It reaches a length of a foot, and is very singular in 

 appearance and interesting in habits. 



Family GOBIID.^. The Gobies. 



The gobies form an exceedingly large and diversified family of carnivorous 

 fishes, found in the warmer waters of all parts of the world. They are for the 

 most part small and live upon the bottom, in both fresh and salt water. Some 

 species are blind. A few are of economic importance. The American genera 

 number more than 30 and the species nearly 100. The family characters are: 

 Rather elongate body; mouth small, moderate or large with protractile pre- 

 maxillaries and teeth of various kinds; gi Is 4, gill-membranes united to the isth- 

 mus; opercle without spines, preopercle with a short spine or none; pseudo- 

 branchia; present; pyloric coeca absent; air-bladder usually lacking; skin either 

 naked or scaly, the scales cycloid or ctenoid; lateral line absent; fins of a great 



