40 



characteristic most easily noted is, however, the formation of the pec- 

 toral flns, which merge together on the under side of the body to form 

 an imperfect suctorial organ. Most of the species have the habit of 

 burrowing in the sand or mud. 



Nichols' Goby, RhinogoUus nicholsi (Bean), is our sole represen- 

 tative of a genus which is mainly southern in its distribution. It has 

 six spines in the dorsal fin, whereas the species that follow have seven. 

 It is said to be abundant in some parts of Vancouver Island, but only 

 one specimen has come to hand in the San Juan Islands. 



The Shining Goby, Lepidogobius lepidus (Girard), must be a rare 

 species as very few have been taken up to this time. It has seven 

 dorsal spines and is clothed with small cycloid scales. 



The Long-jawed Goby, Gillichthys mirabilis (Cooper), as its name 

 suggests, has the jaw reaching far back, nearly to the base of the pec- 

 toral fin. The head and belly are devoid of scales. 



The Y-marked Goby, Quietula Y-cauda (Jehkins and Evermann) is 

 similar to Gillichthys, but with flaps of skin on the shoulder girdle. 

 A row of spots extend along the side of the body, the last assuming 

 the form of the capital "Y" of the Greek alphabet, hence the name. 



The Arrow Goby, Clevelandia ios (Jordan and Gilbert), (Fig. 90) 

 is a slender species, two inches in length, with four or five spines in 

 the dorsal fin. The scales are minute and cycloid. Specimens were 

 encountered in Hoods Canal when digging in a sandy beach at low 

 tide. 



FAMILY 41. TOAD-FISHES; BATRACHIDAE. 



Only one species of this small family is native to Puget Sound, but 

 this form, known as the Midshipman or Singing Pish, Porichthys nota- 

 tus (Girard), is one of our commonest fish. It resembles a sculpin, but 

 can be identified immediately by the branching lateral lines which 

 extend across the head and body. Along these lines are distributed 

 shining spots looking like rows of buttons, thus giving rise to the 

 name. The female is frequently met with in collecting along the shore, 

 since she deposits her eggs on the under side of loose rock or other 

 debris, and stands guard over them till they are hatched. When dis- 

 turbed the fish utters a loud vibrant noise which may be heard at a 

 considerable distance. The illustration used is that of a closely allied 

 species. (Fig. 92). 



FAMILY 42. CLING-FISHES ; GOBIESOCIDAE. 



The Common Cling-fish, Caularchus meandricus (Girard), (Fig. 91) 

 is found almost everywhere along our shores. Between the wide-set 

 ventral fins a broad sucking disk is developed, which enables it to cling 

 tightly to rocks or other objects. There is no spinous dorsal fin. 

 Scales are absent. It attains a length of six inches. 



