50^ THE COBY. 



Genus XXIX. "lie Go^j. 



A HERE are eight fpecies belonging to this family, tha£ 

 are enumerated by the Sivedljh naturalift. Their common 

 charaders are, the body itraight, and gently comprelTed; 

 the fkin rough, -with a thick coat of fmall imbricated and 

 deciduous fcales. The jav/s of equal length, armed with 

 fmall, iharp and immoveable teeth. The dorfal tins are two ; 

 the firfl fmall, confilling only of a few rays, the fecond 

 broad and high ; the perioral lins are large, and rounded 

 at the ends ; whiie tlie ventral are united, and have the 

 appearance of a funnel. 



There are only two fpecies of the goby known to 

 frequent our coafts, the black and the fpotted. The firft 

 crows to the fire of fix inches ; the fecond only three, 

 and is frequently caught in the ilirimpnets upon our fan- 

 dy fhores *. Two or three other fpecies frequent the 

 Mediterranean ; but as they are of no yaluc, their babil3 

 and manners are but iittle known, 



*» Brjtilh Zoology. 



