252 



THE GEMME0U8 DRAG ON ET. 



have caught and kept many Gobies, and have frequently seen them sticking to the sides of the 

 vessel in which they were confined. The adhesion was achieved with astonishing rapidity, and 

 the little fish contrived to hold itself with wonderful tenacity. The surface of the Black Goby 

 is very slippery, owing to the abundant mucous secretion which is poured from the appropriate 

 glands, but after it has been in spirits for some time, the edges of the scales begin to project 

 through the mucous, and are exceedingly rough to the touch. 



Several species of Goby inhabit the American shores, such as the Polewig, or Spotted 

 Goby {OoMus mimitus), a rather pretty little fish, transparent golden-gray, with a multitude 

 of tiny black dots upon the back, and generally marked with some darkish blotches upon the 

 sides, and a black spot on the dorsal fin. The Two-spot Goby {Gobius RutJien sparii) is 

 another species, and may by distinguished by the two deep brown spots on either side, one 

 just above the root of the i)ectoral fin, and another on the side of the tail. 



In some places along the sea-coast, the Gobies are kno^ATi by the popular appellation of 

 Bull-routs, and are rather feared on account of the sharp bite which their strong jaws and 

 pointed teeth can inflict upon the bare hand. 



POLEWIG, OR SPOTTED (iOBY .— Oobius miuutu: ^ 



The general color of this fish is blackish-brown above, changing to white along the 

 abdomen and under the chin. The length of tliis species seldom exceeds five or six inches. 



The Gobies, family Gohidw, ai"e carnivorous fishes, mostly of small size, living on the 

 bottoms near the shores in warm regions. Some inhabit fresh waters, and others live indis- 

 criminately in either fresh or salt water. There are sixty to seventy genera, and nearly four 

 hundred species. 



The pretty Gemmeous Dragonet, Fox-pish, Sculpin, or Gowdie, can easily be distin- 

 guished from any other species, on account of its very remarkable shape 



It is not a very uncommon fish, and is captured either Avith the hook or in a net, the latter 

 being the ordinary method of securing it. It is rather a voracious fish, and feeds chiefiy on 



