Osteologij and Classification of the Gobiold Fishes. 731 



Genera: O.vi/mepoton. loghssus, Phih/pnus, Dormitator, 

 Eleotr'is, OJontolnitis, As'erroptevy.v, Rhiachicht/n/fi, &c., &c. 



According" to Staiks (' Science,' xxxiii. 1911, p. 2) the 

 condition of tlie sliouldei -girdle in the Gobioids, as exempli- 

 fied by Dormitator macalatus, is as follows : — "^ The coracoid 

 elements and the actinosts are arranged in a continuous row 

 on the posterior edge o£ the clavicle ; the iiypercoracoid 

 above, next the actinosts, and ending below with the hypo- 

 coracoid — the actinosts attached directly with the clavicle, 

 and separating- the coracoid elements widely from each other." 

 I have examined Dormitator macidaius, and find that the 

 pectoral arch closely resemble* that of Eleotris marmorata 

 (fig. 2, A), differing only in that the coracoid elements are 

 more widely separated, so that the whole of the third radial 

 and a small part of the second and fourth articulate with t!ie 

 ligamentous tissue separating the Iiypercoracoid from the 

 hypocoracoid. 



Stark's description applies to Gegenbaur's figure of 

 Gohius guttatus, but not to any actual Gobioid fish, and I am 

 unable to accept his suggestion that the Gobioids may be an 

 of^ishoot of the Scorpajnoids ; the resemblance of the pectoral 

 arch of the Gobioids to that of the Cottidte is not very close, 

 for the relation of the first radial to the Iiypercoracoid is 

 quite different in the two groups ; from this it results that in 

 the Cottidfe the Iiypercoracoid persists above the first radial, 

 whereas in the Gobiidse it is suppressed. 



Family 2. Gobiidae. 



Pelvic fins, when well developed, united, usually forming 

 an adhesive cup or disc. Palatine T-sha[)ed, with a j)osterior 

 process for articulation with the lateral ethmoid ; meso- 

 pterygoid vestigial or absent. Hypercoracoid absent ; radials 

 inserted on the cleithrum, only the lowest in contact with the 

 hypocoracoid (fig. 2, 13, C). 



The Gobiidae closely resemble the Eleotridee in their osteo- 

 logy except for the characters of specialization enumerated 

 above, although the interorbital region is usually narrower 

 and rnay even be compressed to a vertical lamina [Perio- 

 2?hthalmus) with obliteration of the interfrontal suture. 

 Emery has given some figures of the head-skeleton of Gohius 

 capito (Faun. u. Flor. d. Golf. v. Neapel, ii. 1880, pi. iii. 

 figs. 28, 29, 33). These are incorrect in some particulars ; in 

 fig. 23 the epiotics are shown as divided into parietals and 

 epiotics, whilst in fig. 33 the mesopterygoid, which is a 

 small splint on the upper edge of the pterygoid, is not shown, 



