128 U. S P. E R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-^-ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



2. GOBIUS NEWBERRII, Grd. 



SPEC. CHAR.- Body slender and compressed. Head blunt and rounded off; jaws equal ; gape of rnouth oblique ; posterior 

 extremity of maxillary extending to a vertical line drawn back of the orbit. Interocular spa.ce broad. Olivaceous, variegated 

 with black. 



SYN. Gobius newberrii, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 136 ; and, in Bost. Journ. of Nat. Hist. VI, 

 1857 ; Plate XXV, figs. 58. 



This is quite a handsome species, less elongated in its general aspect and more fusiform in its 

 outline than G. lepidus. The largest specimen we have seen, out of many, measured but little 

 over two inches. 



The body is compressed, swollen upon the thoracic region, and tapering posteriorly in a very 

 decided manner. The greatest depth is contained about five times and a half in the total length, 

 and the least depth, on the peduncle of the tail, is about one-half the greatest. 



The head is obtuse or else the snout is rounded anteriorly so as to give the entire region an 

 obtuse appearance. It is contained four times and a half in the entire length. The jaws are 

 equal and the gape of the mouth is oblique, precisely as in G. lepidus. The posterior extremity 

 of the maxillary extending to a vertical line drawn back of the orbit. The eye is small, sub- 

 circular, its horizontal diameter entering about four times in the length of the side of the head. 

 The interocular space is quite broad, compared to the same region in G. lepidus, since in 

 specimens a good deal smaller it is nearly double the width it has in the latter. The branchial 

 fissures are likewise separated under the throat by a wide isthmus. 



The first dorsal fin is separated from the second by a narrow space, not contiguous as formerly 

 stated by us. It is also lower. As to its length, it is contained once and a half in that of the 

 second dorsal, measured upon their bases. The anal is as deep as the second dorsal is high, it 

 is shorter upon its base, and its anterior margin placed a little posterior to the anterior margin 

 of the latter. Both fins terminate evenly posteriorly, whilst in G. lepidus the tips of the 

 posterior rays of the dorsal project further back than those of the anal. These fins have also a 

 proportionally longer base in G. lepidus than in the present species. The caudal fin is rounded 

 upon its posterior margin and constitutes a little more than the fifth of the entire length. The 

 vent has the same position, opposite the anterior margin cf the second dorsal, than in G. lepidus, 

 and the tips of the ventral fins are far from reaching it. The latter are sub-ovate, inserted 

 immediately under the base of the pectorals. The pectorals, themselves, are sub-ovate also ; 

 their posterior extremity projects beyond that of the ventrals. Thus, in the relative position 

 and extension of the pectoral and ventral fins we have good discriminating characters between 

 this species and G. lepidus. The formula of the fins is as follows : 



D VIII, 13 ; A 12 ; C 3, 1, 6, 6, 1, 2 ; V 5 ; P 18. 



The scales are small and quite inconspicuous ; a lateral line is not apparent. The scales 

 themselves are sub-circular, deeper than long, cycloid in structure, exhibiting diverging grooves 

 upon their anterior section only. They are smaller upon the upper than upon the lower regions 

 of the body. 



The ground color is olivaceous, though the dorsal region appears almost blackish, owing to 

 the accumulation of innumerable black dots which constitute small blotches encircling isolated 

 spots of the ground color. The middle region of the flanks is equally mottled with black ; the 

 inferior regions alone being unicolor. The dorsals and anal are either entirely blackish and 

 margined with white, or else the second dorsal is spotted like the back. The caudal is olivaceous, 



