FAMILY, XXVII— GOBIID^E. 285 



Habitat. — Andamans, Malay Archipelago to Australia : the specimen figured (life-size) is fr° m 

 the Andamans. 



2. Gobius sexfasciatus, Plate LIX, fig. 4. 



B. v, D. 6 | 11, P. 19, V. 1/5, A. 10, C. 15, Sc. minute. 



Length of head 4|, of caudal 4|, height of body 6 in the total length. Eyes — diameter 3| in length of 

 head, not 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 1/6 of a diameter apart. Greatest width of head equals 4/7 of 

 its length, and its height equals its length excluding the snout. Anterior profile of head very obtuse. Lower 

 jaw the longer : cleft of mouth oblique, the anterior extremity of the mouth commencing opposite the lower 

 third of the eye : the maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the eye. Preopercle without any spine. 

 Teeth — in several villiform rows, and an outer enlarged one in either jaw, those in the mandibles being the smaller 

 and confined to about 16 at its anterior extremity, the outer of which is recurved. Fins — dorsal spines weak 

 and filiform, the third being about as long as the body is high. Anterior dorsal rays not half so long as the 

 spines, its last rays the longest. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout. Ventral not adherent to 

 the abdomen, it does not reach the vent. Anal commencing below the second dorsal ray, and is similar to that 

 fin. Caudal wedge-shaped. Scales — minute over body, becoming somewhat larger towards the tail. Colours — 

 grayish-brown, with six bands descending from the back towards the middle of the sides : opercle covered with 

 a large dull blotch. Fins grayish, stained darker at their edges. Upper half of caudal yellow, and barred with 

 light brown spots. A black mark between the two first dorsal spines, about the centre of their height. 



Habitat. — The specimen figured (life-size) was captured at Madras in June, 1867. 



3. Gobius brevirostris, Plate LXIII, fig. 5. 



Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 41. 



B. v, D. 6 | Toi-rr, P- 17, V. 1/5, A. 10, C. 13, L. 1. 44, L. tr. 14. 



Length of head 4J-, of caudal 5§, height of body 6 in the total length. Eyes — 1/5 of length of head, 

 1 diameter from end of snout and apart. Upper profile of head parabolic. Width of head equals its height, 

 and its length behind the middle of the orbit. Lower jaw slightly the longer. Mouth oblique, its cleft 

 commencing opposite the lower edge of the eye, the maxilla extends to below the anterior third of the orbit. 

 No tentacles or barbels on the scaleless head. Teeth — in several viLiform bands with an outer enlarged row : a 

 recurved canine at either extremity of the enlarged row in the lower jaw. Fins — dorsal spines flexible, the 

 second or longest equals the length of the postorbital portion of the head. Caudal wedge-shaped. Pectoral as 

 long as the head without the snout. Ventral extends half way to anus : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid, 

 increasing in size posteriorly : a few rows on the head in old specimens, none in small ones : about 

 25 rows before base of dorsal fins : 13 rows between the second dorsal and anal fins. Colours — olivaceous, with a 

 blotched irregular band running from the mouth to the centre of the base of the caudal fin : a narrow brown 

 band from the eye to above the opercle, terminating above the axilla in a large light blue ocellus. Two small 

 bluish spots on the opercle at its upper margin, another at the upper edge of the base of the caudal. Dorsal 

 fins with a violet coloured basal half. Anal white, having a violet band along its centre, lightish blue 

 superiorly and white externally. Caudal with blackish margins. 



Habitat. — Kurrachee, where the specimen figured (life-size) was obtained, to China. 



4. Gobius griseus, Plate LXIII, fig. 3. 



B. v, D. 6 | Jgy, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 10, C. 14, L. 1. 42, L. tr. 14. 



Length of head 4|, of caudal 5^, height of body 4J in the total length. Eyes — -upper margin near the 

 dorsal profile : diameter 4|- in length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1/4 of a diameter apart. 

 Head as wide as high or as its length without the snout. Lower jaw the longer, cleft of mouth rather oblique, 

 the maxilla reaches to below the first-third of the eye. Numerous rows of warts on the cheeks and opercles, 

 which are but little apparent in the young. No barbels. Teeth — in several very fine villiform rows in both 

 jaws, the outer row in the premaxillaries much enlarged, especially near the symphysis : the outer eight or ten 

 in the front of the lower jaw are still larger, and the external on either side is a large recurved canine. Fins — 

 spines of first dorsal ending in filamentous prolongations, and being rather higher than the body, its 

 base ends close to the commencement of the second dorsal, the last ray of which reaches the base of the caudal. 

 Pectoral as long as the head : ventral reaches half way to the anal. Caudal wedge-shaped, the central rays 

 being the longest. Scales— ctenoid and angular, largest in the posterior portion of the body, very 

 small (20 or 30 rows) anterior to the dorsal fin, they extend as far as to the eyes : 14 rows between the bases of 

 the second dorsal and. anal fins. A few very fine ones on the upper part of the opercles : the scales do not show 

 the sudden increase in size from under the commencement of the second dorsal fin as seen in G. brevirostris. 

 Colours — olivaceous, with bands and many well marked deep brown or black spots. Pectoral fin and 

 contiguous portions of the body finely dotted with small chestnut spots. Base of first dorsal yellowish with 

 three or four horizontal brown bands and usually a dark mark near its posterior extremity : second dorsal 

 yellowish with a dark outer edge. Ventral, anal, and caudal with dark outer edges. 



