GOBIOIDS. 103 



these teeth in each jaw, and they are always exposed to view, the lips 

 not being sufficiently developed to cover them. 



In the sub-genus Sicydium the intermaxillary hones are beset with 

 more than a hundred teeth, as fine and flexible as hairs ; these teeth in 

 the Sycidium Plumieri are of a golden colour ; in the Sicydium lago- 

 cephalum, they are extremely delicate. In the lower jaw, behind a 

 series of similar, but shorter flexible denticles, there is a row of well- 

 developed conical sharp-pointed and slightly recurved teeth. 



In the Boleophthalmus the teeth of the upper jaw resume their 

 functional character as piercers and lacerators ; and in one species, 

 hence called dentatus, the six anterior ones are larger than the rest, 

 project from the mouth and descend in front of the lower jaw. 



In the Dragonets {CalUonymus) the jaws are feebly armed with 

 minute and villiform teeth; in the CalUonymus Lyra the anterior teeth of 

 the lower jaw are somewhat larger than the rest. In the Comephorus or 

 CalUonymus Baikalensis, the maxillary teeth are so minute, as to give 

 a scabrous character to the dentigerous surface ; but the denticles are 

 hard, and when viewed with a lens, present a recurved sharp-pointed 

 form. 



43. Tliere is a small family of fishes, in which the pharyngeal 

 bones are so modified as to be subservient to the respiratory as well as 

 the digestive functions ; the surface of these bones is increased by being 

 produced into laminae variously convoluted, and intercepting labyrin- 

 thiform spaces, in which a certain quantity of water can be kept in 

 store. Thus provided, many of these fishes voluntarily quit their 

 proper element, and all of them can maintain life for a considerable 

 time out of water. These Gobioid fishes form a separate family, 

 called ' Pharyngnies Labyrinthiforms,' in the system of Cuvier. 



The CUmbing Perch {Anahas scandens), has the third pair of 

 superior pharyngeal bones armed with close-set conical teeth, which are 

 opposed to similar teeth on the inferior pharyngeals ; the posterior part 

 of the vomer, which lies between the dentigerous upper pharyngeals, 

 supports a group of villiform teeth ; and there is a transverse row of 

 similar teeth on the anterior part of the same bone ; this distribution 

 of vomerine teeth is peculiar to the ^wa&as. The palatines are eden- 



