50 GOBIOID.E. 



nape of the neck almost to the tail, but is not joined to 

 it ; pectoral fins broad and rather long ; ventral fins want- 

 ing; the anal fin extends the length of the posterior half 

 of the body ; the tail rounded. 



The upper part of the head, the sides, back, and fins, are 

 of a brownish grey ; the body crossed by vertical bands, and 

 varied with spots of darker brown, some of which extend 

 over portions of the dorsal fin ; the belly and under surface 

 generally are white. 



This fish attains the length of six or seven feet, and in 

 the colder and more extreme northern seas is said to become 

 still larger. 



