TWO-SPOTTED GOBY. 347 



animal is labouring under excitement, its body 

 assumes a deep brownish tint, approaching in some 

 ^ instances to black ; this gives place to brown, drab, 

 and even amber, or yellowish white. 



The Goby possesses the power of attaching its body 

 to any object by means of its ventral fins, which be- 

 come united together in the form of a funnel 



Another species (Gobius bipunctatus), or Two- 

 Spotted Goby, is generally found among the Fuci, in 

 rocky situations. Its name is derived from a dark 

 spot which is distinctly apparent on each side, near 

 to the origin of the pectoral fin. 



The head and upper part of the body is dark brown, 

 the under part of the head and belly white or pale 

 drab. 



Allusion has already been made to the peculiarity 

 of the Gobies affixing their bodies to rocks or other 

 substances, by means of a sucker formed by the 

 junction of the ventral fins. The adhesive power in 

 question, which this class of creatures possess, is very 

 limited as compared with that which is exercised by 

 the true sucker fishes, and especially by the mem- 

 bers of a certain species, whose bodies are furnished 

 with two distinct organs of adhesion. 



The extraordinary adhesive powers of the Lump- 

 Sucker, for instance, have been tested by several 

 writers. One observer states, that a fish of mode- 

 rate size has been known to suspend a weight of 

 above 20 Ibs., upon which it had accidentally fastened 



