SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 



365 



streak along side; dark streaks on head; branchiostegal membrane black; dorsal fins with 

 several series of dark spots; anal with bluish bars and a white margin, {niaculatus, spotted.) 



Mr. William P. Seal collected a number of small specimens of this species in 

 fresh water near Wilmington in the winter of 1905-6, and thus extended its 

 known range, South Carolina heretofore being the most northern state from 

 which it was recorded. The fish is found in fresh and brackish waters as far 

 south as Brazil, and is also known from the west coast of Mexico and Central 

 America. It reaches a length of several feet, and is eaten in some countries. 



Genus CTENOGOBIUS Gill. Gobies. 



A very numerous genus of small fishes found in both salt and fresh waters in 

 all parts of the world. The body is elongate and compressed; the head is rather 

 long and more or less depressed; the mouth is of moderate size, with several 

 series of conical teeth in jaws; the eye is anterior to middle of head; the scales are 

 of moderate or rather small size, ctenoid, not deciduous, sometimes absent from 

 nape, breast, and cheeks; dorsal fins separate, the anterior with 6 weak spines; 

 soft dorsal and anal long; caudal pointed; pectorals well developed; ventrals 

 united, not adnate to abdomen. Besides the following species known from the 

 shore waters of North Carolina, several others range as far northward as Charles- 

 ton, S. C, and may in time be detected in this state. {Ctenogobivs, comb goby; 

 in allusion to the ctenoid scales.) 



315. CTENOGOBIUS STIGMATIOUS (Poey). 

 "Scallop-fish."; Goby. 



Smaragdus stigmaticus Poey, Memorias, ii, 281, 1861; Cuba. 



Gobius stigmaticus, Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2224, pi. cccxxvi, fig. 787; North Carolina to Brazil. 



Gobius encceomus Jordan & Gilbert, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 1882, 611; Charleston, S. C. Jenkins, 



1885; Beaufort. Jordan & Eigenmann, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 1886, 496; Beaufort. 



Jenkins, 1887, 91; Beaufort. Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2223. 

 Gobionellus encceomus, Jordan, 1886, 28; Beaufort. 



Ctenogobius stigmaticus. 



Diagnosis. — Form very elongate, the depth .16 length; head slightly compressed, .25 

 length; mouth low, horizontal, comparatively large, the maxillary .4 length of head and extend- 

 ing to a point under pupil; height of cheeks less than eye; eye high, less than .3 length of head 

 interorbital space less than .3 diameter of eye; snout short, obtuse, its length less than eye 

 scales large, strongly ctenoid, 27 to 33 in lengthwise series; nape, head, and breast naked 

 dorsal fins contiguous, the rays vi + H or 12, the spines high (longest .6 head); soft dorsal 



