Botany and Zoology. 279 
The family of Golid@ is limited to the species with the ventral fins 
united in the manner of a funnel and thus excludes the Eleotroids as well 
asthe Cyclopteroids. The latter are very properly regarded as distinct, 
but the propriety of excluding the former from the Gobioids is more 
doubtful. 
The genus Gobius is limited to the species with cycloid scales. Th 
hame cannot be retained for such species, as the genus had by several 
naturalists been previously restricted to species with pectinated scales, 
Mr. Gill has framed for the two species thus referred to Gobius, a genus 
which he has called Lepidogobius. 
find that in the family of Cyclopteroids, the Gronovian name of 
Cyclogaster is substituted for the Artedian name o iparis, Liparis has 
been almost universally accepted by naturalists, and being the prior name, 
should be adopted. No description is given by Artedi of the generic or 
specific characters of Liparis, but the references he has given are full and 
ample, enabling us without doubt to ascertain what is meant. 
In the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Dr, Girard 
has described a genus under the name of Homalopomus which he has 
relerred to the Trachinoids. This is now referred to the Gadoids, and a 
doubt is even expressed whether it is distinct from Merlangus or Merlu- 
clus, not appear to differ from the latter genus. e cause of 
the former erroneous reference is attributed to the broken tips of the 
tays of the specimen on which the species was founded. : 
The family of Embiotocoids is rich in generic forms, nine being de- 
his. Some of the species described as new by Dr. Girard will probably be 
found to have been previously indicated by Gibbons. 
lee. 
"Girard claims “that the real knowledge of the remarkable peculi- 
ities concerning some of their habits was obtained in the spring of 
1852, by Dr. Thomas H. Webb, while attached to the United States and 
? 
® genera described and illustrated are Embiotoca Ag. with seven 
*Pecies, Denatichtave Girard, Phanerodon Grd., Abeona Grd., Rhacochi- 
lus ‘8 £ysterocarpus Gibbon, Holeonotus Ag., each with one species, 
Ennichthys Grd., and Amphistichus Ag., each with two species. th 
7° Senera are chiefly characterized by the comparative ce of t : 
fad; the character of the lips, and the attachment or non-attachment 
er one by a frenum to the jaw, the comparative pote : 
_ Premaxillaries ; the number of rows of teeth on the jaws, and the out- 
line of the dorsal fin 
" Girard has given some information on the embryology of the 
Embiotocoids, which will prove of general interest. He denies the pres- 
“ee of any resemblance between their gestation and that of the marsu- 
. 
