-246 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Second group. ELEOTBINA. 

 Ventrals not joined. Two dorsals. 



Vomerine teeth present 8. BOSTMCHTHYS. 



No teeth on vomer or palate 9. ELEOTBIS. 



Third group. AMBLTOPINA. 

 All the vertical fins more or less united. 

 No cavity above the opercle. Scales rudimen- 

 tary or wanting 10. GOBIOIDES. 



A blind cavity above opercle. Scales small but 



distinct 11. TBYPAUCHEN. 



First group. GOBIINA. 

 1. Genus GOBIUS, Artedi. 



Branchiostegals generally five ; pserudobranchiso. Gill-openings 

 of moderate width. Body low and elongate. Opercles unarmed. 

 Simple teeth in one or more rows in the upper, and two or more 

 in the lower jaw ; the outer row in each often enlarged ; canines 

 sometimes present. Anterior portion of dorsal fin with from five 

 to six flexible spines ; ventrals united, forming a disk, which is only 

 attached by its base, each has one spine and four or five rays. 

 Caudal rounded or pointed. Scales present or absent. Lateral 

 line absent. Air-bladder, when present, generally small. Pyloric 

 appendages usually absent. 



The fishes "comprised in this genus have the form of the body 

 variously modified, some being much deeper than others. They 

 are either wholly scaled, or the head may be scaleless, and even 

 the body partially or entirely devoid of scales. Very often the 

 scales on the posterior portion of the body are longer than those 

 near the head and on it. Barbels or warts on the head or a crest 

 on the occiput may be present or absent. 



The dentition is subject to considerable modification. Some 

 specimens possess a recurved canine on the outer side of the 

 enlarged lateral row in the lower jaw ; this is more commonly 

 found in marine than in freshwater species. Variations may, 

 however, occur in specimens of the same species. 



These fishes are found in numbers along the shores and estuaries 

 of India, but on account of their rapid decomposition after death, 

 full collections have yet to be made. 



Geographical Distribution. Fresh, brackish, and salt waters of 

 tropical and temperate regions. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Lateral, recurved canines present in 



the lower jaw. 

 I). 6 | 1/18-19. Scales minute, three ' 



or four vertical bands on body . . 1. G. gymnocephalus, p. 249. 



