CLASS V. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 



447 





THE SAND-SMELT. 



Among the American species are the Striped Mullet, M. linra/u.% six to eight inches long; 

 found on oiir coast, ami esteemed excellent food; the White Mullet, Af. a/bnla, nine inches 

 long; a plump, firm fish ; appears in our markets in July and August, and is in high repute with 

 the epicures : the Rock-Mullet, M. petrosus, six to seven inches long; ranges on the coast from 

 New York to Brazil : and the Spotted Mullet, M. Plumieri, which resembles the preceding. 



Genus ATHERINxV : Athcrina. — This includes the Sand-Smelt or Atherine, A. presbyter, five 



or six inches long ; it is esteemed for the 



table, and resembles the common smelt 

 in flavor; found in the European waters. 

 The Dotted Silverside, A. notata, 

 three to four inches long, is much es- 

 teemed for food, and is found on our coasts 

 from Massachusetts to Cape Cod. 



The Green or Slender Silverside, A. 

 menidia, is four to five inches long, and found' on the coasts of New York. 



Genus ANABAS : Anabas. — To this belongs the Climbing-Perch, A. scandens, found in 

 India. In this the pharyngial bones are formed to retain a supply of water in cells, so that the 

 fish is able to quit the ponds and streams in which it usually resides, for five or six days, and to 

 wander to a considerable distance over the land. Sometimes it will even ascend the trunks of 

 trees for a short distance, from which circumstance it derives its common name. This and some 

 other species of the family are frequently exhibited by the jugglers of India and China, where 

 they are common. The flesh of all these species is extremely good, and one of the size of a tur- 

 bot, is said to equal that celebrated fish in delicacy of flavor. 



THE GOBIID^. 



These fishes, noted for the absence of the air-bladder, are for the most part small, keeping close 



to the shore, usually among rocks, and 

 often attach themselves by means of their 

 disc-like ventral fins to the lower surface 

 of rocks and other objects. Some kinds 

 are abundant in tidal waters. The male 

 of one species, found in the Mediterra- 

 nean, makes a nest, and watches over and 

 defends the spawn with care and courage. 

 Genus GOBIUS : Gobius.— This in- 

 cludes the Black Goby or Rock-Fish of Europe, G. niger ; it is five to six inches long, and 

 found on the rocky coasts of Europe. It is not esteemed for food. 



Other species are the Spotted Goby, G. viinutus, called Polcivig in England, and the Double- 

 Spotted Goby, G. bipunctatus, both European species. The Variegated Goby, G. alepidotus, 



two or three inches long, is found on 

 our coasts. 



Genus CYCLOPTERUS : Cgclop- 

 tcrus. — To this belongs the Lump- 

 Fisii, C. lumpns : also called Lump- 

 Sucker and Sea-Oivl in England, an<I 

 Cock-Paddle and Hcn-Paddle in 

 Scotland ; in France Llcorne de Mer. 

 It is of a thick, massive form, and 

 often weighs as much as six or seven 

 pou nds ; it is of a purplish-black color, 

 variegated with red and brown above; 

 the belly is crimson ; the flesh is soft 

 and insipid. The back and sides are marked with rows of tubercles, and the appearance of 



THE BLACK GOBY. 



^^^ 



THE LUMP-S'ISH. 



