268 GOBTOID.E. 



dorsal fin, and the rays of the second dorsal fin are of uniform 

 length. The number of fin-rays are 



D. 4. 9 : P. 20 : V, 5 : A. 9 : C. 10. 



The prevailing colour is a reddish brown, which in young 

 specimens is varied by a few dark spots on the sides of the 

 body ; the dorsal fins are pale brown without stripes ; all the 

 under surface of the body, pectoral, ventral fins, and head, 

 uniformly white ; anal fin even whiter than the belly. The 

 intestines in the Dragonets are so transparent that their con- 

 tents may frequently be ascertained without further exposure. 

 They have no swimming-bladder. 



In proof of the distinction of the species, it may be stated 

 that the colours of the body and fins are decidedly different ; 

 that in C. lyra, the head is to the whole length as one to 

 four ; the eyes removed two diameters from the end of the 

 nose ; the head elongated and elevated ; the distance from the 

 point of the nose to the posterior edge of the orbit, and 

 thence to the origin of the first dorsal fin-ray, equal ; the 

 mouth large ; the lateral line prominent. In C. dracunculus, 

 the head is to the whole fish as one to five ; the eyes but one 

 diameter above the snout ; the head depressed, strictly trian- 

 gular ; the distance from the eye to the first dorsal fin-ray 

 double that of the distance from the point of the nose to the 

 eye ; the lateral line much less distinct, and the mouth only 

 half as deeply divided. The vignettes show the comparative 

 capacity of the mouths in two specimens of nearly equal size. 



