586 Mr. F. Pickard-Cambridge on the 
the hole, and gradually the great grey goby slides down into 
deep water, resting motionless at the bottom and almost lost 
to sight, so well do the mottled tints assimilate with the rocks 
and stones at the bottom of the pool. 
The ventral fin has all the appearance of a sucker, but 
observations tend to the conclusion that it has no adhesive 
power, but is merely tactile in its function. The fish are 
excellent eating by all accounts, and when of large size are 
worth the trouble of cooking. 
A detailed, description of this giant goby is given below, 
with a few notes on the other two more nearly allied species, 
with a key to their differential characters. 
Key to the Species referred to in this paper. 
A. Size of adults larger, reaching from 7-9 inches 
long. Lateral margin of anterior membrane 
of ventral fin free, forming either a pointed 
(immature) or rounded (adult) lobe. Inter- 
orbital space only slightly less than the trans- 
verse diameter of the eye ........++.000-- G. capito, C. & V, 
B. Size of adults smaller, never longer than 4 inches. 
Lateral margin of anterior membrane of ven- 
tral fin not free. Interorbital space scarcely 
wider than one fourth the transverse diameter 
of the eye. 
a. First dorsal with a yellow or orange mar- 
ginal band. Scales smaller, not less than 
50 in longitudinal series on the lateral line. 
Median rays of first dorsal not prolonged. 
Filiform rays on upper margin of pectorals 
MMOLE MUMELOUS 1). = peewwaa cies os G. paganellus, Linn, 
b. First dorsal without marginal band. Scales 
larger, not more than 42 in longitudinal 
series. Median rays of first dorsal pro- 
longed. Filiform rays of pectorals less ; 
numerous, 40r5....... Rhy tot Segoe G. niger, Linn, 
Gobius capito, Cuv. & Val. (PI. XXX. figs. a, b, & ce.) 
(Giant or Big-headed Goby.) 
1836. Gobius capito, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poissons, t. xii. p. 21. 
1836. Gobius limbatus, Cuy. & Val. loc. cit. p. 345, fig. 345 (see. 
Steindachner). 
1840. Gobius evanthematosus, Nordm. in Demid. Voy. Russ. Mérid. iii. 
p. 428, Poiss. pl. x. fig. 1. 
1863. Gobius niger, Couch, Fishes of the British Islands, vol. ii. p. 155, 
figure. 
1861. Gobius capito, Giinther, Joc. cit, vol. iti. p. 55. 
1881. Gobius capito, Moreau, Hist. Nat. Poissons de France, t. ii. 
p. 203, fig. 102. 
