liLACK GOBY. 251 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. GOBIOIDJE. 





THE BLACK GOBY, ROCK-FISH. 



Gobius Niger, LINN/EUS. 



,, ,, CUVIER, Regne An. t. ii. p. 243. 



Black Goby, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 288, pi. 42. 

 ,, ,, MONTAGU, MS. 



Generic Characters. Head depressed, with pores between the eyes ; dorsal 

 fins two, distinct, rays of both flexible ; ventral fins united at the edges, form- 

 ing a circle ; anal aperture with a tubercle ; body covered with scales, the free 

 edges ciliated ; teeth small, numerous ; branchiostegous rays 5. 



THE species of this genus are easily recognised by the 

 peculiar form of the ventral fins ; the short anterior rays, 

 and the long posterior ones, on each side, being united 

 together, making a circle, with which they have been sup- 

 posed to possess the power of attaching themselves to 

 rocks, by forming a vacuum. The Gobies are of little 

 value, except as supplying food to other fishes. Of this 

 genus the Black Goby is the most rare on our shores. 



This species appears to be chiefly an inhabitant of the 

 rocky parts of our coast, and on that account is not so 



