ACANTHOPTERYGIANS : MUGILID^. 337 



Family includes spine-rayed fishes which have an appa- 

 ratus by which they retain water for the purpose of mois- 

 tening their gills while they are upon shore ; for at times 

 they quit the water and crawl for a considerable distance 

 upon dry land. They inhabit the fresh waters of the East 

 Indies and South Africa. 



MUGILID.E, OR MULLET FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises spine-rayed fishes with a nearly cylindrical bo4y, 

 large scales, two distinct dorsals, head somewhat depressed 

 and covered with large scales or plates, and the muzzle 

 short. They inhabit the fresh waters and coasts of tem- 

 perate and tropical regions, and about eighty species are 

 known. 



The Genus Mugil is represented by several species on 

 the Atlantic coast of the United Fig. 209. 



States, all of which are small, vary- 

 ing from six to eight or nine inches 

 in length, and of a silvery color. 



The Genus Atherina contains the Striped Mullet) ^ UneatuSt 

 Silversides. The Dotted Silverside, 

 A. notata, Mitch., of the Atlantic coast of the United 

 States, is three to four inches long, with a broad silvery 

 band from the branchial aperture to the tail, and dark 

 points on each scale. 



GOBID^E, OR GOBY FAMILY. This Family comprises 

 spine-rayed fishes with a more or less elongated body, 

 small scales or none, slender and flexible dorsal spines, 

 and small branchial apertures. About thirty genera and 

 about three hundred species are described. 



The Genus Blennius Blennies has a single dorsal, 

 smooth skin, and ventrals under the throat. The species 

 are found in small communities among the rocks near the 

 shore, and are capable of living without water for some 

 time. They are all small, some of them only one or two 

 inches long, and covered with a slimy mucus. 



15 v 



