Gobius. — 2d Div. gangetic fishes. 43 



The belly is rather protuberant, and the tail is compressed. 

 There are very minute scales on the body and upper part of the 

 head. 



The first dorsal fin is quite separate from the second, and at 

 least three times higher. It is in form of a wedge, and sup- 

 ported by soft undivided rays, the middle one of which is much 

 the longest, and the two outer ones by much the shortest. 

 They are situated close together, with scarcely any intervening 

 membranes. The rays of the second fin are subdivided at the 

 ends, and the last is divided to the root. The pectoral fins are 

 situated low, and are rounded ; each contains nineteen rays. 

 The ventral fin is plain and oval. The rays of the anal fin are 

 divided, the last being split to the root. The tail fin is oblique, 

 and contains sixteen rays. 



Of the second division of the genus gobius, one species on- 

 ly, the G. schlosser, was known to La Cepede ; but in the 

 Ganges I have seen five species, all perhaps distinct from that 

 described by the French naturalist. It seems to be of this di- 

 vision of fishes that Pliny writes, {Hist. Mundi, Lib. I., Cap. 19,) 

 " Exit in terrain — et in Indiae fluminibus certum genus pis- 

 cium, ac deinde resilit." 



In fact, the fishes of this division are found in the estuaries, 

 and, while the tide is retiring, remain on the mud which the 

 water has just left, and on which they move, with considerable 

 ease, by means of the muscular protuberances in which their 

 pectoral fins are inserted. While on the mud, they have an 

 excellent opportunity of seizing the small aquatic animals that 

 are returning to the river with the last drainings of the tide. 

 At the same time, these fishes, which are quite defenceless 

 against birds, keep always so near the water, that, with one 

 spring, they can throw themselves into it, in which operation, 

 also, they are powerfully assisted by the muscular protuberances 



