260 GOBIOID.E. 



ACANTHOPrERYGlL GOBIOWjE. 



THE SLENDER GOBY. 



Gobius gracilis, Jenyns. 



I have been favoured by the Rev. L. Jenyns with the 

 following particulars of a fourth species of Goby. 



" Dorsals remote, the second with the posterior rays 

 longest : eyes closely approximating : length three inches 

 two lines." 



" Form closely resembling that of G. minutus, but more 

 elongated and slender throughout ; greatest depth barely 

 one-seventh of the whole length ; snout rather longer ; oper- 

 cle approaching more to triangular, the lower angle being 

 more cut away, and the ascending margin more oblique ; 

 a larger space between it and the pectorals ; the two dorsals 

 further asunder : rays of the second dorsal longer ; these 

 rays also gradually increasing in length, instead of decreas- 

 ing, as in minutus^ the posterior ones being the longest in 

 the fin, and rather more than equalling the whole depth : 

 rays of the anal fin in like manner longer than in G. minutus. 

 The fin-rays are — 



D. 6. 12 : P. 21 : V. 12 : A. 12 : C. 13. 



In all other respects similar." 



" Apparently a new species, though probably of not less 

 frequent occurrence than the Spotted Goby, with which it 

 may be easily confounded. 



" My specimens were obtained from Colchester, and were 

 supposed to have been taken somewhere off the Essex coast." 

 — Jetii/ns' MS. 



